Jesus Aguirre-Gutierrez

Associate Professor

  • Environmental Change Institute
  • School of Geography and the Environment

I am a Senior Researcher and NERC IRF Fellow and lead the Functional Biodiversity and Remote Sensing group of the Ecosystems Programme at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford.

My research is deeply rooted in the exploration of tropical forest dynamics, utilising advanced remote sensing technologies to understand biodiversity patterns and their resilience against climate change. In my group we integrate trait-based ecology with forest dynamics to assess the impacts of environmental changes on forest ecosystems globally.

​Throughout my career I have contributed to the scientific community with innovative projects that bridge field ecology and satellite remote sensing. My work emphasises the importance of understanding ecological processes through a spatial lens, where I have developed novel methods for mapping and analysing the functional diversity and resilience of forest ecosystems. These efforts are crucial for predicting how these ecosystems might shift in response to climate and land-use changes, providing valuable insights for conservation strategies.

The research conducted in my lab at Oxford not only furthers scientific understanding but also nurtures the next generation of environmental scientists. I am committed to mentoring young researchers, especially those less represented in academia, as those from the Global South, overseeing a vibrant team that investigates various aspects of ecological resilience, from pollinator distributions influenced by climate change to the socio-ecological dynamics of forest ecosystems. My lab serves as a hub for collaborative research, fostering an environment where interdisciplinary approaches lead to groundbreaking discoveries in biodiversity conservation and sustainable environmental management.​

By focusing on the intersection of ecological theory, remote sensing technology, and practical conservation efforts, our work exemplifies the role of science in addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Our research not only enhances our understanding of global biodiversity patterns but also contributes directly to the development of strategies aimed at preserving the integrity and functionality of ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.​

Feel free to get in touch if you are interested in the work we do at the ‘Functional Biodiversity and Remote Sensing’ lab and want to discuss research and supervision opportunities!

Related Projects

Healthy Ecosystem Restoration in Oxfordshire

Developing the local Oxfordshire landscape as a case-study, nature-recovery laboratory and community of practice.

Assessing Ecosystem Health Across a Gradient of Herbivory in East African Savannas

Identifying tipping points by quantifying key indicators of ecosystem health in East African savannas.

Revealing the compositional and functional responses of mycorrhizal fungi to rewilding at the Knepp Wildland

Using novel eDNA methods to understand if rewilding is also serving below-ground communities, focusing on 'keystone' mycorrhizal communities and their functions.

Research at the interface of indigenous and Western science

Empirically applying an intercultural interdisciplinary mapping methodology “Non Oñamboan Joi” for assessing nature recovery potential in the Amazon.

Understanding nature recovery paths and ecosystem functioning through forests health assessments

Quantifying the health of forests ecosystems by means of earth observation can aid in understanding nature recovery paths and ecosystem functioning

LiDar date from the air.

Mapping the resilience of tropical forests and savannas to global environmental change

Climate change effect on tropical forests

Chipboard Close up

Mapping nature recovery at scale

Our AI team is developing state-of-the-art AI approaches to combine different sources of data, including drones, satellite, survey data and social media, that are robust to a range of environmental scenarios, data noise and model reliability.

An energetic approach to assessing nature recovery in soils – a regenerative agriculture case study

Measuring and comparing energy to and through soil biodiversity under regenerative and chemical farming to understand and assess nature recovery in this traditional ‘black box’

Remote sensing approaches to characterise pollinator diversity and plant-polinator interactions in nature recovery landscapes of Eastern Ghana

Evaluating the effects of nature recovery on pollinators their interactions with plants.

Related Outputs