Fernando’s profile

Fernando T. Maestre is a Professor of Ecology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), where he leads the Dryland Ecology and Global Change Lab. His research focuses on understanding the ecology of drylands—how biodiversity, soil, vegetation, and microbial communities function under extreme aridity—and how global-change drivers such as climate change, land degradation, and altered land use affect their resilience and sustainability.

A key hallmark of Fernando’s career has been his pioneering work establishing and coordinating global research networks dedicated to understanding dryland ecosystems and their responses to global change. These collaborative efforts—spanning all continents—have produced transformative insights into the functioning, vulnerability, and resilience of drylands, while building research capacity worldwide and leading to numerous publications in prestigious academic journals.

Before joining KAUST, Fernando held academic positions in Spain and the United States, where he developed a globally recognized research program on dryland ecology, microbial communities, and nature-based solutions.