Prof. Hans Verbeeck is a Research Professor at Ghent University, and also co-leader of the Q-ForestLab. His work integrates process-based ecosystem modelling, field ecology, and advanced remote-sensing to understand how forests respond to climate change. He has led major international projects working in tropical and temperate forests, He has important activities in the Congo Basin; did a lot of work on the impact of lianas on tropical forests, but today we will focus on his work the ecology and restoration of tropical mountain forest in the Andes in Ecuador (RecoAndes Project). His research connects fundamental ecological science with practical forest-management strategies aimed at improving carbon-sequestration and climate resilience.

Prof. Verbeek on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-verb...
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/...
Q-Forestlab: https://q-forestlab.ugent.be/index.html

External materials:
video source for the project https://youtu.be/iF3bY-kDy38?si=eDYNx...
additional acknowledgements for the video:
[EN] The video is a product of the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Innovation of the University of Cuenca, developed by MEDIALAB–Philosophy–2025
[ESP] Un producto del Vicerrectorado de Investigación e Innovación de la Universidad de Cuenca, desarrollado por MEDIALAB–Filosofía–2025

Special thanks:
to Prof. Hans Verbeeck, Ximena Palomeque and Dalma Orellana Peralta for the images, videos and feedback provided for this episode, and also to the University of Cuenca.

00:15 Cold open: Why the Andes matter
01:24 Inside the Andean mountain forest research
03:01 Origin story: How the project began
04:37 Project partners + the importance of Indigenous knowledge
05:29 Why the Andean forest ecosystem is research-critical

06:44 PhD experience: reflection interview
10:21 Research impact: local communities and policy
12:24 Main threats to Ecuador’s mountain forests & how to investigate them
14:10 Methodology in action
17:06 Capacity building: what the project leaves behind

18:43 Which planet do you choose? Main message
20:07 Essential PhD skills to have/build
21:22 Advice for incoming PhDs