Prof. Emiru Birhane Hizikias

I am a restoration ecologist with deep expertise in forest inventory, restoration ecology, ecophysiology, and soil quality. Since 2023, I have been a research professor at Nord University and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Norway. In addition, I have been an adjunct professor at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) since 2024, and I have been a professor of restoration ecology at Mekelle University, Ethiopia, since 2011. I am also the director of the Institute of Climate and Society at Mekelle University, a position I have held since 2019.
I completed my PhD in Forest Ecology and Forest Management at Wageningen University, The Netherlands, 2011. I also hold a Master of Science in Farm Forestry from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and a degree in Forestry from Alemaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia.
Working in degraded environments presents both challenges and opportunities for a restoration ecologist. My research primarily focuses on sustaining healthy and nutritious food systems in degraded landscapes, particularly in the context of climate change and post-conflict recovery. I have worked on restoring dryland ecosystems through both passive and active restoration techniques, including exclosures, farmer-managed natural regeneration, soil and water conservation, agroforestry, and assisted natural regeneration. A key component of my recent work has been developing strategies to distribute restored lands to landless youth and women, providing them with sustainable livelihoods.
Over the past 22 years, my research has been supported by over 30 funding organizations and has resulted in 200 peer-reviewed articles in top-tier journals, including Nature, as well as four books and 26 book chapters. I have mentored more than 76 MSc and PhD students, guiding them through their research. Additionally, I serve as an editor and reviewer for several international and national journals.