Thomas Harris

Thomas Harris is a PhD candidate in the Yale School of the Environment whose work focuses on the critical relationship between industrial tree plantations and natural forest regrowth in Latin America, with a particular emphasis on Brazil. His field-based studies demonstrate the potential for industrial reforestation efforts to contribute significantly to carbon sequestration and forest conservation beyond their traditional industrial objectives.

Harris’ research is pioneering in several respects:

1. Carbon Storage Enhancement: He investigates how industrial plantations can elevate carbon storage in both soils and aboveground biomass, comparing these effects to former and current agricultural and pastoral lands in Bahia, Brazil.

2. Secondary Forest Growth: Harris also explores the potential of industrial plantations to restore and protect secondary forest regrowth within reforested areas, providing a dual benefit of carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.

3. Synergies and Conflicts: Another key focus of his work is to examine the economic and ecological synergies and conflicts between industrial plantations and recovering secondary forests, identifying how these land uses can coexist and benefit from each other.

A specific area of interest in Harris’ research is the effectiveness of the Brazilian Forest Protection Code (BFPC) in increasing native forest cover in the Mata Atlântica region. His study aims to measure the impact of the BFPC across different land uses, including the impact on standing carbon in production and protection forests. Furthermore, Harris collaborates closely with Professor Daniel Piotto from the Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia (UFSB) and Brazilian forest engineering students, integrating local expertise and place-based research.

The findings from Thomas Harris' research have the potential to offer large-scale, incentive-compatible solutions for global reforestation efforts. By demonstrating ways to improve the well-being of all stakeholders—from government officials to industrial managers and landowners—his work underscores the significant contributions that industrial reforestation can make to environmental sustainability and policy development in both Brazil and the broader Latin American region.