Dr. Giulia F. Curatola Fernández

Research Associate

Unit Land Systems and Sustainable Land Management

Phone
+41 31 684 32 93
E-Mail
giulia.curatola@unibe.ch
Office
107
Postal Address
Universität Bern
Geographisches Institut
Hallerstrasse 12
CH-3012 Bern

My research examines how landscapes transform at agricultural frontiers, where expanding production reshapes territory, livelihoods, and ecosystems. I combine remote sensing and GIS with fieldwork to detect these changes and understand what drives them, from market pressures and policy shifts to local land-use decisions. The goal is to improve land management so that it is more sustainable, benefitting humans and non-human nature.

 

Research

Research focus

  • Land use/cover change detection
  • Deforestation drivers
  • Forest fragmentation
  • Mountain peatlands
  • Social-ecological systems
  • Vegetation spectroscopy
  • Community-based conservation and OECMs
  • Land tenure and land rights

Further professional interests

  • Natural hazards and risks
  • Ecosystem function and services
  • Invasive species
  • Land degradation
  • Food systems
  • Transdisciplinary reseach
  • Responsible siting

Field experience

Madre de Dios, Amazonas, Arequipa, and Ancash (Peru); Loja and Zamora (Ecuador); Switzerland; Togo; Benin

Publications

Publication Year Type

Other

Curriculum vitae

Education

2018:

PhD in Natural Sciences, Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing, Faculty of Geography, University of Marburg (DE)

Dissertation on the spatio-temporal distribution patterns an of an invasive species linked to human-induced fires and deforestation in southern Ecuador

2009:

Licenciatura in Geography, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PE)

Dissertation on the spatial distribution patterns of a native amazonian tree as indicator of anthropogenic forest disturbance in Madre de Dios, Peru

2007:

BSc in Geography, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PE)

2006:

Academic exchange year at the University of Fribourg (CH)

Professional experience

09/2020-06/2022:

Scientific Advisor, Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, Lima (PE)

01/2020-08/2020:

Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Nature, Earth and Energy, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima (PE)

03/2019-12/2019:

Scientific Advisor, Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, Lima (PE)

09/2018-03/2019:

Returning Expert, GIZ / Peruvian Society for Environmental Law, Lima (PE)

03/2010-05/2018:

Scientific assistant, Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing, University of Marburg (DE)

03/2008-06/2009:

Lecturer and teaching assistant, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PE)

12/2007-03/2008:

Research assistant, Resident Naturalist program, Explorer’s Inn Lodge, Madre de Dios (PE)

11/2005- 04/2006:

Pre-professional intern, GIS department of the Ministry of Education, Lima (PE)

01/2005- 04/2005:

Pre-professional intern, NGO Practical Action, Huaraz (PE)

 

Languages

Spanish, Italian, German, English and French

Teaching

Herbstsemester

  • Kolloquium Geographien der Nachhaltigkeit
  • Forschungspraktikum Geographien der Nachhaltigkeit

Frühlingssemester

  • Feldkurs Integrative Geographie
  • Vorlesung + Übungen Geographien der Nachhaltigkeit
  • Kolloquium Geographien der Nachhaltigkeit
  • Forschungspraktikum Geographien der Nachhaltigkeit
  • Vorlesung Sustainability in the Anthropocene

Activities and Services

Memberships

Reviewer

  • Environmental Conservation
  • Ecology and Society
  • Geocarto
  • Land

Activities and Services

Memberships

Reviewer

  • Environmental Conservation
  • Ecology and Society
  • Geocarto
  • Land