Strengthening the collaboration between CATIE and the University of Vermont

• The visit of Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, CATIE researcher and professor, as Macmillan Scholar to the University of Vermont consolidated the strategic alliance between both institutions, promoting scientific cooperation and academic exchange.

December 13, 2023. CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) reaffirmed its cooperation ties with the University of Vermont (UVM) through the recent stay of Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, coordinator of the Unit of Forests and Biodiversity in Productive Landscapes of the Center, as Macmillan Scholar, contributing to the academic excellence of the Gund Institute for Environment, of said university. Macmillan Scholar, contribuyendo con la excelencia académica del Gund Institute for Environment, de dicha universidad.

During her stay, Martinez-Salinas shared experiences and research advances developed in various projects led by CATIE, highlighting the work done on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Mesoamerican productive landscapes.

During his presentation, Martinez-Salinas highlighted research findings on:

• CATIE's Bird Monitoring Program, which after more than a decade has contributed the most complete database on functional traits of birds in the journal Ecology Letters Ecology Letters. (AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds – Tobias – 2022 – Ecology Letters – Wiley Online Library).
• Projects such as IKI Trees on Farms Trees on Farms and IKI BioPaSOS in Honduras and Mexico, respectively, which evaluated the influence of different land uses on bird conservation and carbon storage. Silvopastoral systems and remnant forests enhance carbon storage in livestock-dominated landscapes in Mexico | Scientific Reports (nature.com)
• Successful collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the study of ecosystem services on coffee farms, demonstrating the interaction between pest control and pollination. Interacting pest control and pollination services in coffee systems | PNAS

In addition, Martinez-Salinas emphasized CATIE's strategy to disseminate research results through scientific and technical publications and educational materials, underlining CATIE's commitment to disseminating scientific knowledge to diverse audiences and in particular to support evidence-based decision making.

The interest of the UVM academic community revolved around CATIE's interdisciplinary approach, its impact on sustainable forest and biodiversity management, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in scientific research.

"I consider it fundamental that as tropical researchers we present our findings to other colleagues working in other systems. In addition, these exchanges allow us to meet other researchers who share our interests and with whom we can potentially establish successful collaborations. It allows us to expand our networks of contacts and the search for joint research projects," said the researcher.

This collaboration, backed by years of partnership between CATIE and UVM's Gund Institute for Environment directed by Taylor Ricketts, has generated significant scientific publications and valuable educational materials. Currently, Ricketts is also an international associate of CATIE's Environmental Economics and Sustainable Agribusiness Unit (UEAAS/EfD).  

Martinez-Salinas' visit consolidates a strategic alliance between CATIE and UVM, promoting scientific cooperation and academic exchange in favor of sustainable development and environmental conservation.