Josefa Ovalle

Growing up in southern Chile, temperate rainforests have always provided a home as well as a source of inspiration for Josefa. Previously, she's been involved in research studying the regeneration of forest ecosystems post volcanic and fire disturbance events in Chile and Oregon, respectively. Josefa's research interests lie at the intersection of forest ecosystem services and the dynamic relations humans have with these landscapes. Her current research focuses on the trends and effects of industrial tree plantations upon watersheds in south-central Chile and the surrounding communities that rely on these systems and services. With this work, she hopes to shed light onto how land management and conservation practices can affect not only the health and integrity of ecosystems, but also the nuanced effects upon the social and economic systems involved. In her free time, Josefa can be found snowboarding, volunteering for The Nature Conservancy, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her dogs.