Louis Verchot

I am a biogeochemist with over 35 years of experience leading research on tropical land use and land-use change, with a focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals across the US, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. My work bridges science and policy, aiming to generate actionable, field-based data that informs climate mitigation strategies, sustainable land management, and low-emission food systems. Throughout my career, I have held senior research roles within the CGIAR international research network, most recently at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). I collaborate extensively with universities and advanced research institutions in the global north and research and development partners across the tropics. I have contributed to the IPCC since 2002, including roles in both the GHG Inventory Task Force and Working Group III. I also contributed regularly to the UN Climate Change Convention since 2003 and made expert contributions to policy processes in national and regional forums. I currently serve on the Interim Steering Committee of the Soil Carbon International Research Consortium and I am an associate editor at the Open Science Journal of the Royal Society. My research spans a wide range of topics— including greenhouse gas emissions from land use and land-use change, deforestation drivers, tropical peatlands, dry and humid forests, agroforestry, forest landscape restoration, soil carbon sequestration, and sustainable food systems. Now transitioning to an emeritus position, I remain committed to advancing science-based solutions to climate change and supporting global collaboration on nature-based mitigation pathways. https://alliancebioversityciat.org/who-we-are/louis-verchot