Dr. Janelle Sylvester

Biography

Janelle Sylvester is a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen focusing on the drivers of land degradation in agricultural landscapes, particularly in the Colombian departments of Caquetá and Cesar. Her research aims to identify proximate causes of soil degradation through a land systems lens and assess the connections to global processes. Her objectives include understanding the drivers of land degradation in productive landscapes, the role of food systems in this degradation, implications for peacebuilding in post-conflict settings, and insights for designing sustainable land-use systems. Sylvester's interdisciplinary research interests encompass tropical forest landscape restoration, agroforestry, sustainable land use systems, biodiversity conservation, soil management, environmental peacebuilding, and community participatory research. She is motivated by a desire to disseminate practices and bridge gaps between multidisciplinary scientific research and on-the-ground project implementation for successful large-scale restoration and conservation efforts. Through her work, she aspires to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals in Colombia.

Research Interests

Experience