SENIOR TEAM
Dr. Deo Shirima
Dr. Deo D. Shirima serves as a Senior Lecturer and Safeguard Information System Officer within the Department of Ecosystems and Conservation at the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Tourism, as well as the National Carbon Monitoring Centre at Sokoine University of Agriculture (https://www.ncmc.sua.ac.tz/). He is a trained Forest Ecologist and Forester, holding a PhD from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Norway.
Dr. Shirima's primary research interests revolve around understanding the interactions between humans and ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on forest structure, the dynamics of changing agricultural and agroforestry landscapes, and the carbon cycle. He is also dedicated to applying his research to address grassroots conservation and ecosystem management challenges. As a co-founder and technical advisor of Reforest Africa (http://reforestafrica.com/), he plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainable forestry practices.
Throughout his career, Dr. Shirima has undertaken various consultancy assignments, focusing on areas such as forest landscape restoration, biodiversity management plans, carbon trade project design, plant metal uptake, and phytoremediation in mining concessions. He has also contributed to carbon project design and development, provided technical assistance in forest stewardship auditing (FSC), and developed greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems at both national and city levels.
In the AgCARS project, Dr. Shirima serves as the Principal Investigator, overseeing project integration, findings, and impact. He coordinates and manages the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) employed at Sokoine University of Agriculture and leads data analysis, modeling, and system modeling efforts.
Prof. Marion Pfeifer
Professor Marion Pfeifer is a land systems scientist specializing in socio-ecological frameworks to tackle biodiversity, conservation, and ecosystem restoration, particularly in forested areas. She utilizes remote sensing data from satellites, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and drones, as well as biodiversity and habitat quality data, to monitor natural capital and biodiversity. As the leader of the TROPical landScapes (TROPS) lab, she conducts extensive fieldwork in tropical regions, including Tanzania, Brazil, South Africa, Peru, Gabon, Brunei Darussalam, and Sarawak. The lab also addresses agroforestry knowledge gaps at Cockle Park Farm and in Tanzania and the Philippines, focusing on collaborative solutions to enhance well-being and ecological health.
In her academic role, Professor Pfeifer serves as the Co-Director of the Centre for Climate and Environmental Resilience at Newcastle University and is the Newcastle Director of the IAPETUS-2 Doctoral Training Partnership. Her research has led to the development of novel methods illustrating the global impacts of habitat loss and edge effects on vertebrates, with findings published in Nature, Science, and Ecology Letters. She has also produced an animation summarizing this research, accessible online.
Additionally, she has conducted work on remotely sensing habitat quality indicators that relate to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, applicable for conservation planning, with publications in the Journal of Applied Ecology, Remote Sensing of Environment, PeerJ, and Agriculture and Forest Meteorology. Professor Pfeifer has established methods and targets for forest restoration and managing socio-ecological resilience at the landscape scale, offering resources through initiatives like Force Experiment and Reforest Africa.
In the AgCARS project, Professor Pfeifer provides critical mentorship and technical support in landscape climate adaptation and resilience mapping for Objectives 1-3 and Phases 1-4. She oversees project progress, integrates findings and impacts, and serves as a technical advisor on fieldwork design. Moreover, she leads data analysis, scenario modeling, and the preparation of scientific manuscripts, final reports, and dissemination efforts.
Dr. Hamidu Seki
Dr. Seki is a specialist in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental ecology, restoration ecology, and wildlife management, bringing extensive experience in climate change projects, biodiversity assessments, and ecosystem services. Notable initiatives he has worked on include the Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) project at Sokoine University of Agriculture from 2011 to 2015, the Forest Restoration and Climate Experiment (FoRCE) in Udzungwa Mountains National Park from 2015 to 2020, and the REDD+ pilot project aimed at enhancing forest carbon stock data in Tanzania during the same period.
In his role as a team leader for baseline biodiversity studies related to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Dr. Seki has conducted flora and fauna surveys at diverse mining sites and irrigation schemes. He established Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) in Tanganyika District, Katavi Region in 2017, and conducted a baseline survey in the Katavi-Rukwa landscape for the SUSTAIN Eco Project.
Dr. Seki holds a B.Sc. in Wildlife Management and an M.Sc. in Ecosystem Science and Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture, as well as a Ph.D. in Environmental Geography from the University of York, UK, where he focused on the impact of mining on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
In the AgCARS Project, he plays a vital role in data acquisition, leading tasks in Phase 1 and 2, as well as data validation, field measurements, and compiling the final validated database in Phase 4, while collaborating with research assistants on report writing and manuscript preparation.
Dr. Sarah Osima
Dr. Sarah Emerald Osima is a Tanzanian meteorologist with over 15 years of experience at the Tanzania Meteorological Authority, where she manages environment and research initiatives. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in hydrometeorology from the Russian State Hydrometeorological University and completed her PhD at the University of Cape Town, focusing on climate models and their projections for East Africa.
Dr. Osima has published extensively on climate change, including the paper "Projected Climate over the Great Horn of Africa under a 1.5/2°C Global Warming Level" based on the Paris Agreement. She actively reviews research for peer-reviewed journals and participates in national and international climate initiatives, collaborating with government stakeholders to prepare nationally determined contribution reports for the UNFCCC. Additionally, she contributes to the Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory and leads the Energy Group. Dr. Osima supervises two PhD students and leads the East African group for the CORDEX-Africa project.
In the AgCARS project, she will develop spatially explicit risk and opportunity scenario models to inform decision-making.
OTHER SUPPORTIVE TEAM
Dr. Zarah Pattison
Dr. Zarah Pattison is a Senior Lecturer in Plant Science at the University of Stirling, where she has established herself as a leading expert in ecology and environmental sciences. Her extensive academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Stirling, a statistician position with the Scottish Government, and a postdoctoral role, funded by NERC, also at Stirling. These experiences have equipped her with a rich understanding of ecosystem dynamics, particularly concerning invasive non-native species.
Dr. Pattison's research primarily focuses on the dispersal, impacts, and management of these species, with a keen interest in their community and ecosystem responses within freshwater and forest environments. She addresses critical challenges related to water and food security, especially in rural landscapes threatened by invasions. Her studies explore understudied dispersal pathways and the influence of anthropogenic disturbances, such as agricultural river degradation, on the spread of invasive species.
In addition to her research work, Dr. Pattison is dedicated to habitat restoration efforts to rehabilitate areas impacted by urbanisation and agricultural practices, particularly in the context of climate change. Her collaborative approach includes engaging with various stakeholders to develop effective management strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 and 6.
Currently, Dr. Pattison serves as the Deputy Associate Dean of Internationalisation, showcasing her commitment to fostering global academic partnerships. She plays an integral role in the AgCARS project, which addresses climate change risks facing small-scale agri-food processing industries in Tanzania's Kilombero landscape. This initiative aims to create a strategic decision-making framework to mitigate climate risks for smallholder farmers, in line with Tanzania's Five-Year Development Plan III.
Dr. Pattison is also concerned with inclusivity in fieldwork, leading projects that emphasise safety and diversity. With a diverse portfolio of projects across the UK, sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe, she continues to make significant strides in sustainable environmental management and resilience.
James Hardwick
James Hardwick is a dedicated PhD researcher at Newcastle University, where he explores the intricate interactions between plant communities and land surface dynamics, particularly in fluvial environments. His research focuses on how these ecosystems respond to anthropogenic pressures, including invasive species and land cover changes. Under the supervision of Dr. Zarah Pattison and Dr. Chris Hackney, James is investigating the ecogeomorphic impacts and feedbacks of riparian plant invasions across Northern England and Central Scotland.
In addition to his primary research, James is actively studying the trajectory of geomorphic change in a tropical catchment in Tanzania, which is experiencing rapid agricultural expansion. This work highlights his commitment to understanding the broader implications of land use changes on ecosystem dynamics in diverse environments.
James is also passionate about promoting equality and diversity in environmental research. He is involved in initiatives that examine the role of institutions in safeguarding fieldworkers, ensuring that inclusivity is a priority in fieldwork settings. His interdisciplinary approach allows him to tackle complex environmental questions, integrating perspectives from ecology, geomorphology, and social science.
His involvement in the AgCARS project further exemplifies his dedication to addressing climate change challenges. This innovative initiative focuses on assessing climate risks faced by small-scale agri-food processing industries in Tanzania's Kilombero landscape. He contributes his expertise in ecological dynamics and land surface interactions by helping to develop strategies to mitigate climate risks for smallholder farmers and agricultural industries, aligning with Tanzania’s Five-Year Development Plan III.
Through his research and collaborative efforts, James Hardwick is making significant contributions to our understanding of ecological interactions and their implications for environmental management. His work not only advances academic knowledge but also supports practical solutions to pressing environmental issues in both temperate and tropical regions.
Ms. Nandera Juma Lolila
Ms. Nandera Juma Lolila is an Assistant Lecturer and researcher at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Tanzania. She holds a master’s degree from SUA, where she conducted her dissertation on “Quantifying Forest Structure along Environmental and Disturbance Gradients in the Sub-Tropical Montane Forest of Eastern Arc, Tanzania” within the Department of Ecosystems and Conservation, College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Tourism.
As part of her master's studies, Ms. Nandera assessed tree community distribution and spatial predictions of biodiversity in the sub-tropical montane forests of East Usambara, utilizing Sentinel-2 remote sensing technology.
Her research interests encompass forest ecology, climate change, non-timber forest products, biodiversity restoration, ecosystem services, and community-based conservation. Ms. Nandera has contributed to various research projects focusing on natural resource conservation and management. Notable projects include a value chain analysis and mapping of indigenous mushroom species in the Dar es Salaam, Ruvuma, and Tabora regions; a meta-analysis of forest carbon information using existing data and remote sensing techniques; and habitat restoration for endangered endemic taxa in Kimboza and Ruvu Forest Reserves. Additionally, she has been involved in the active restoration of habitats for the critically endangered Lygodactylus williamsi in Kimboza Forest Reserve.
In her current role as Senior Field Coordinator for the AgCARS project, Ms. Nandera facilitates data collection and compilation. She supervises research assistants during fieldwork, ensuring that the quality of the data collected aligns with the project's objectives. Throughout her career, Ms. Nandera has demonstrated a commitment to advancing sustainable practices in forest management and conservation in Tanzania.
Eng. Donald Limbe Mpuya
Eng. Donald Limbe Mpuya is a seasoned engineer with over 11 years of professional and technical experience in the design, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of various construction projects, specifically in the transport and water sectors. He currently serves as a National Project Officer at the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he provides technical assistance for Community-Based Routine Maintenance initiatives focused on employment-based social protection interventions.
His work includes promoting and implementing public works-related strategies, such as labour-based technology and community-based public works, including the Public Works Programme (PWP) under the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) and the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN).
In addition to his role at the ILO, Eng. Mpuya works as a Natural Resources Management Policy Specialist at RTI International and serves as a National Project Advisor for Irrigation and Integrated Water Resources Management for SNV. From 2020 to 2022, he held the position of National Project Officer for the ILO’s Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), where he supported the implementation of EIIP interventions.
His contributions included developing the Community-Based Routine Maintenance (CBRM) technical manual for the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), rolling out CBRM training for TARURA staff, and enhancing the capacity of women contractors under the Tanzania Women Contractors Association (TWCA). He also developed various technical and managerial manuals, including gender guidelines and training manuals for CBRM and PWP.
Eng. Mpuya's areas of interest encompass transportation, irrigation and water resources development and management, hydrology, and climate change. Over the past 11 years, he has successfully conducted and coordinated numerous studies related to transportation, community group formation, irrigation development, hydrological assessments, detailed design of rural infrastructure, tender preparation and evaluation as per the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), and environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA).
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