Details
Central African tropical forests are considered to be the world’s most efficient carbon sinks (Rockstrom et al. 2021). However, there is large uncertainty in the current and future behaviour (Hubau et al. 2020). This project will address the controls on the size and trajectory of the tropical forest carbon sink in structurally intact tropical forest in the Congo Basin.
The project will combine long-term forest inventory data from the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network (AfriTRON), of over 200 long-term forest monitoring plots in structurally intact forest, and combine this with an unpublished soils database from the same plots, to assess the role of soil attributes on the size of the carbon sink.
The student will first assess the role of soils in determining stand woody production, both nutrients and soil structural attributes. Next, the student will assess the role of soils in determining tree mortality. Finally, these can be combined to assess how soils impact the tropical forest carbon sink.
There will be a large fieldwork component where the student will collect soil data from existing long-term plots in Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of the Congo, by joining field teams re-censusing the long-term plots at the same time.
By demonstrating where the forest carbon sink is stable or increasing the project may increase forest protection in these areas.
The PhD provides a training in fieldwork, laboratory analyses and statistical analysis, alongside working as part of a larger team, giving experience across different aspects of forest science. The PhD is based in Leeds, but will include significant time within the 4 years in central Africa, likely 1.5 years in total over the 4 year period.
You will be encouraged to develop and strengthen collaborations with other CBSI students and researchers. You will be supported to publish your work in leading academic journals and communicate your results as widely as possible, including to policy makers.
This project is part of the Congo Basin Science Initiative Vegetation, Soil and Biogeochemistry Observatory, and builds on the monitoring of structurally intact forest as part of the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network (AfriTRON) and the CongoFor1.5 project that is funding a new round of recensuses of the long-term forest inventory plots.
The project is a collaboration between University of Leeds in the UK, University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon, CENAREST in Gabon, Marien Ngouabi University in Republic of the Congo, Kisangani University in Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the University of Ghent and the Africa Museum in Belgium.
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Funding
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Funding eligibility criteria:
Must be a national of and ordinarily resident in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon or Republic of the Congo, including at the time of application (28 February 2025). Proof of eligibility will be required.
Monthly stipend:
Students receive standard CBSI stipend, currently:
USD 1,000 per month PhD in central Africa
USD 700 per month MSc in central Africa.
GBP 1,603 per month in UK (the UK standard maintenance stipend).
Funding for University fees included:
Other funding included:
Relevant costs to purchase equipment, field costs, English language training, and travel for training and attending scientific conferences are included in the funding. For applications to UK universities funding includes intensive training to help you prepare for English language tests that you will need to pass in order to meet University entry requirements.
- An assessment of the relationships between woody productivity (forest growth) and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- An assessment of the relationships between forest mortality (forest growth) and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- An assessment of the relationships between the forest carbon sink and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- A spatially explicit map of the structurally intact tropical forest carbon sink, or a contribution to it.
- Tropical fieldwork experience.
- Good numeracy skills.
- Some English skills, with the ability to pass an English language test with the level required to enter the University of Leeds, after no more than two months of intensive language training, funded as part of the scholarship, in April and May 2025.
- Willingness and aptitude to undertake long field missions in remote forest areas.
- Good organisational abilities to manage collecting the soil, shipping it and analysing it in the lab.
- Willingness to live for prolonged periods in the UK and to undertake regular international travel.
- Proven abilities to collaborate and work in a team.
W. Hubau, S. L. Lewis, O. L. Phillips, K. Affum-Baffoe, H. Beeckman, A. Cuní-Sanchez, et al. (2020). Asynchronous carbon sink saturation in African and Amazonian tropical forests, Nature, 579, 80-87.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2035-0
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2035-0
S. L. Lewis, B. Sonke, T. Sunderland, S. K. Begne, G. Lopez-Gonzalez, G. M. F. van der Heijden, et al. (2013). Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 368, 20120295. DOI: doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
Y. Malhi, T. R. Baker, O. L. Phillips, S. Almeida, E. Alvarez, L. Arroyo, et al. (2004) The above-ground coarse wood productivity of 104 Neotropical forest plots. Global Change Biology, 5, 563-591. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00778.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00778.x
C. A. Quesada, O. L. Phillips, M. Schwarz, C. I. Czimczik, T. R. Baker, S. Patiño, et al. (2012). Basin-wide variations in Amazon forest structure and function are mediated by both soils and climate. Biogeosciences, 9, 2203-2246. DOI: 10.5194/bg-9-2203-2012.
http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/2203/2012/
J. Rockström, T. Beringer, D. Hole, B. Griscom, M. B. Mascia, C. Folke and F. Creutzig (2021). We need biosphere stewardship that protects carbon sinks and builds resilience. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,118, e2115218118 DOI: doi:10.1073/pnas.2115218118
https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2115218118
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Research outcomes
- An assessment of the relationships between woody productivity (forest growth) and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- An assessment of the relationships between forest mortality (forest growth) and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- An assessment of the relationships between the forest carbon sink and soil attributes (nutrients and soil structure attributes).
- A spatially explicit map of the structurally intact tropical forest carbon sink, or a contribution to it.
Pre-requisite skills
- Tropical fieldwork experience.
- Good numeracy skills.
- Some English skills, with the ability to pass an English language test with the level required to enter the University of Leeds, after no more than two months of intensive language training, funded as part of the scholarship, in April and May 2025.
- Willingness and aptitude to undertake long field missions in remote forest areas.
- Good organisational abilities to manage collecting the soil, shipping it and analysing it in the lab.
- Willingness to live for prolonged periods in the UK and to undertake regular international travel.
- Proven abilities to collaborate and work in a team.
References
W. Hubau, S. L. Lewis, O. L. Phillips, K. Affum-Baffoe, H. Beeckman, A. Cuní-Sanchez, et al. (2020). Asynchronous carbon sink saturation in African and Amazonian tropical forests, Nature, 579, 80-87.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2035-0
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2035-0
S. L. Lewis, B. Sonke, T. Sunderland, S. K. Begne, G. Lopez-Gonzalez, G. M. F. van der Heijden, et al. (2013). Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 368, 20120295. DOI: doi:10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2012.0295
Y. Malhi, T. R. Baker, O. L. Phillips, S. Almeida, E. Alvarez, L. Arroyo, et al. (2004) The above-ground coarse wood productivity of 104 Neotropical forest plots. Global Change Biology, 5, 563-591. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00778.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1529-8817.2003.00778.x
C. A. Quesada, O. L. Phillips, M. Schwarz, C. I. Czimczik, T. R. Baker, S. Patiño, et al. (2012). Basin-wide variations in Amazon forest structure and function are mediated by both soils and climate. Biogeosciences, 9, 2203-2246. DOI: 10.5194/bg-9-2203-2012.
http://www.biogeosciences.net/9/2203/2012/
J. Rockström, T. Beringer, D. Hole, B. Griscom, M. B. Mascia, C. Folke and F. Creutzig (2021). We need biosphere stewardship that protects carbon sinks and builds resilience. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,118, e2115218118 DOI: doi:10.1073/pnas.2115218118
https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2115218118
Apply
How to apply:
Please read our Application Guide. You must submit your application and supporting documents via our online portal by 28 February 2025. We will not be able to assess your application without all required supporting documents.
In the online portal, you will need to:
- Choose a name to identify your application. Name the application: PhD U. of Leeds (Understanding the drivers of the central African intact forest carbon sink)
- Select the scholarship that you are applying for. Select the scholarship entitled: PhD U. of Leeds (Understanding the drivers of the central African intact forest carbon sink)
Application deadline:
February 28, 2025
Expected project start date:
October, 2025
Language of application:
You will need to submit your scholarship application form, statements and CV in English. You can upload your supporting documents and references in English or in French.
How we assess your application:
See our Application Guide.
Degree Awarding Institution
The application procedure here, as part of CBSI, is to win funding and a supervisory team for the project. Successful applicants will then need to apply to their degree awarding institution to secure a place. Scholarships can only be awarded to successful applicants who have met all conditions required for entry to their degree awarding institution and then officially accepted a place at that institution. Below are details of the criteria needed to apply for a place at the degree awarding institution.
Admissions criteria of the degree awarding institution:
- 2.1 honours degree, or equivalent, in geography or a related subject. A lower undergraduate degree can be supplemented by a relevant Masters degree.
- English language qualifications:
- IELTS: 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in all components (both IELTS Academic and IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (Academic)), passed within two years of the start date of your course.
- A range of other English language qualifications are accepted.
How to apply to the degree awarding institution:
You can apply online to the University of Leeds.
Apply immediately after you hear the outcome of the CBSI Scholarship application process.
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Contact
For enquiries about…
This project:
Contact Simon Lewis by email: s.l.lewis@leeds.ac.uk
Your scholarship application:
Contact: info@congobasinscience.net
Applications to the degree awarding institution:
Contact: env-pgr@leeds.ac.uk
