Mauro Lourenco
The Wilderness Project, Wild Bird Trust, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, University of the Witwatersrand
0000-0002-1946-4783
About
I am a Geospatial Ecologist and Senior Researcher with The Wild Bird Trust and The Wilderness Project. My research uses field observations, satellite imagery, drones and GIS to investigate Africa’s water towers, peatlands and river source regions.
My work focuses on water security, climate resilience, ecosystem connectivity, fire and drought dynamics, and the conservation of understudied landscapes. I led the first mapping of peatland extent and dynamics in the Angolan Highlands, helped define the Angolan Highlands Water Tower and assessed the source regions of the Zambezi River.
My current research is developing a continental framework for identifying and characterising Africa’s water towers.
Employment
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The Wilderness Project Senior Researcher2026 - Present
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Wild Bird Trust Geospatial Ecologist and data analyst2023 - Present
Education
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University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg Doctor of Philosophy Geography2020 - 2023
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University of the Witwatersrand Honours2017 - 2017
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.
Publications (13)
- A probabilistic map of tropical peatlands in the Angolan Highlands Water Tower Save
- Aquatic Conservation Values Mapping for Southeast Angola Save
- Improved understanding of Okavango Delta inundation using GRACE-derived terrestrial water storage Save
- Assessment of source regions of the Zambezi River: implications for regional water security Save
- Wetlands of Angola Save
- Assessment of source regions of the Zambezi River: implications for regional water security Save
- The African Regional Greenhouse Gases Budget (2010–2019) Save
- Peat definitions: A critical review Save
- Defining the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, a 40 plus-year precipitation budget of the headwater catchments of the Okavango Delta Save
- Drought history and vegetation response in the Angolan Highlands Save