Functioning and Structure of Multifunctional Forests: An Integrated Approach Using LiDAR and Eco-physiology

• Grant number: 25/15527-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Forest Management
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Eiji Hakamada
• Grantee: Tiago Marcilio Gomes Pinto
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/15282-6 - Demonstrative Multifunctional Forests to Support the Program ReflorestaSP (DemonstraSP), AP.PP

Abstract

This research aims to integrate remote sensing data (LiDAR) and ecophysiological variables to understand the functioning and structure of multifunctional forests, focusing on mixed forest plantations within the context of ecological restoration and productive use of the Legal Reserve. The proposal includes a comparison between data from conventional forest inventories and metrics derived from LiDAR point clouds, seeking to evaluate their accuracy, complementarity, and integration potential for structural monitoring of forest systems. Based on this structural characterization, ecophysiological analyses will be applied-including growth indicators, resource use efficiency (water, light), and responses to environmental stress-to explain the functional performance of tree species in mixed plantations and multifunctional systems.The study will be conducted using data from the Experimental Forest Science Stations of ESALQ/USP, in model areas with potential to reconcile conservation, quality timber production, and provision of ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and microclimate regulation. By addressing the role of mixed plantations as sustainable models for Legal Reserve use, the research also aims to contribute to forest restoration strategies aligned with productive management, in compliance with the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law (LPVN). Ultimately, the goal is to understand the three-dimensional structure and physiological functioning of forests, providing technical-scientific support for the planning and monitoring of resilient landscapes in the face of climate change. (AU)