My research has aimed to address one of the fundamental questions of tropical biology – how and when did the huge species numbers in the tropics arise? It is grounded in fundamental, descriptive taxonomic, inventory and phylogenetic research, which provides the foundation to address evolutionary and biogeographic questions.
In recent years I have focused more of my work on outcomes relevant to conservation and sustainable livelihoods in tropical Latin America. I have particular interest in raising the profile of neglected but highly threatened tropical dry forest and savanna biomes. In collaboration with the wonderful DRYFLOR network I have worked to prioritise conservation decision making in these ecosystems by pinpointing centres of plant species richness, with more recent projects focusing on habitat restoration. I am also working to develop innovative agroforestry and silvopastoral systems based on legume trees, which can improve livelihoods and slow rates of rain forest destruction.
I am Professor of Tropical Plant Diversity and Biogeography at the University of Exeter. I also retain a part time position at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh where I worked since my PhD and was Head of the Tropical Diversity Section until 2017. I am a Visiting Professor at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, President-elect of the International Biogeography Society, and serve on Advisory Boards for the Eden Project Costa Rica and Clinton Devon Estates Heaths to Sea Landscape Recovery Project. I was a member of the international panel carrying out a review (2022) of science and conservation programmes at the United States National Tropical Botanical Garden.
I have served on the Natural Environment Research Council, Peer Review College and the Biology Panel of the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. I have taught phylogenetics, plant biogeography and systematics to MSc and undergraduate students. I have also supervised the research projects of more than 70 undergraduate, MSc and PhD students.