Professor Dr. Anu Valtonen

Biography

Anu Valtonen is an Associate Professor at Umeå University with research interests primarily in conservation ecology and restoration ecology, particularly focusing on human impacts on biodiversity in the Afrotropics. Valtonen's ongoing research includes studies on the effectiveness and speed of active restoration in tree communities, exploring the recovery of plant and insect diversity, and the composition of food webs in tropical forests. A significant part of her work involves collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority on the Forests Absorbing Carbon dioxide Emissions (UWA-FACE) project in the Kibale National Park, Uganda. Additionally, she is researching the ecology of the African edible bush-cricket (Ruspolia differens), a valued edible insect in East Africa, aiming to enhance understanding of the population ecology of this species. Valtonen also teaches ecology and statistics at a fundamental level and is an active member of a restoration ecology research group.

Research Interests

Experience