Dr. Felipe Melo is an associate professor of restoration ecology at Nottingham Trent University whose work focuses on how landscapes can be managed and restored in ways that support both biodiversity and human livelihoods. A Brazilian ecologist with experience across tropical ecosystems, he earned his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

His research centers on understanding how human activities shape ecological processes in working landscapes, including rangelands, farmlands and fragmented forests. By studying plant communities, forest regrowth and species interactions, he examines how ecosystems recover and how biodiversity can be sustained alongside land use.

His work contributes to applied conservation and restoration efforts, particularly in tropical regions, where he has partnered with governments and NGOs to develop policies that support community-led conservation and ecosystem recovery. These efforts help bridge the gap between ecological research and real-world land management.

Early in his career, a month-long field course in the Amazon helped shape his approach to research and teaching, emphasizing learning through direct experience in the field. He now advances strategies for restoring degraded landscapes, showing how ecological knowledge and community engagement can work together to build more resilient environments.