Oliver L. Phillips

ForestPlots

@forestplots.bsky.social

940 followers 1.4K following 140 posts

Tropical forests in our time - people, trees and climate. Posts by Oliver Phillips.

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Oliver Lawrence Phillips is a British ecologist who specializes in tropical forests and is currently Professor of Tropical Ecology in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds. He is noted for his work coordinating large-scale, collaborative research projects that study how humans have changed the world's tropical forests, and the implications for climate change. .. more

Environmental science 64%

Geography 16%

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ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Oct 30

Forest measurements are more important than ever.

“Dedicated teams working in the field to collect vital ground-truth data are essential to the success of our missions” - Simonetta Cheli #ESA Director of Earth Observation. Find out more in our latest newsletter.
sway.cloud.microsoft/pdXbVpmWR2Io...

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Mathias Disney, Kevin J. Anchukaitis , and 2 more Oliver L. Phillips, Mathias Disney, Kevin J. Anchukaitis, Elena Litchman, Jacob I. Levine

Brian J. Enquist @bjenquist.bsky.social · 6d

New postdoctoral fellowship opportunity! Please pass along. Excited to announce the launch of the Tom Lovejoy Fellowship Program at the University of Arizona for innovative research to protect species, sustain ecosystems, and promote a thriving planet lovejoycenter.arizona.edu/lovejoy-fell... 🧪🌐🌾

Application Process

Image
Woman behind a podium presenting.
Jessie Golding, BBCS postdoc, presenting at ICCB 2025.

Apply to become a Lovejoy Fellow by submitting your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references through the University of Arizona Talent Portal (link upcoming) by the first review date of January 30, 2026.

Your cover letter should:

Identify 1-2 Lovejoy BBCS faculty you would be interested in working with and explain the primary research directions you would want to pursue in collaboration with this faculty member. You are strongly encouraged to reach out to faculty before submitting your application.
Describe your experience with or interest in inter- or transdisciplinary research.
Explain how this experience will positively impact your career trajectory.

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Mónica Medina, Gernot Wagner

Gavin Schmidt @climateofgavin.bsky.social · 6d

Scientists are supposed to be happy when their predictions are skillful, right?

Why do I not feel happy?

Time series of global temperature anomalies from 1980 to present with predictions for 2025 (made in Dec 2024), and 2026, along with the YTD estimate for the 2025 (with only one month to go).

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Global Ecology 🌐 @global-ecology.bsky.social · 7d

🌐 Global Ecology feed Digest #44 Dec 15-19, 21 posts!

✨For the lazy (yes we are!) & friends who don't like social media but might benefit from this feed, here’s a DIGEST crafted with 💚 for you to share

👉 globalecologybs.github.io/feeddigest.g...

DM if you want to receive the link weekly

🌍🦤🦑🪴🍁🧪

bluesky Global Ecology Feed Digest #44

Curated digest of the bluesky Global Ecology feed on biodiversity, ecosystems & conservation at large scales. Terrestrial, freswater & marine realms.

globalecologybs.github.io

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 8d

2025 has the been the third warmest on record - behind 2023 and 2024.

Extreme Temperatures Around the World @extremetemps.bsky.social · 10d

November 2025 Globally,according to JMA -Japanese Meteorological Agency- had a temperature anomaly of +0.50C vs 1991/2020 norm and was the 3rd warmest on record behind 2023 and 2024.

Year-to-date 2025 is being reached these days by 2023 with the two years ending tied behind 2024

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Tim Baker @kofitim.bsky.social · 9d

Our research with the SECO project to understand the trajectory of the dry tropics depends on a team of wonderful people across the world, working in Peru, Brazil and beyond, in fieldwork, data management and lab analysis. Here are some of their stories:

www.leeds.ac.uk/directory-re...

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

cronicadelespacio.bsky.social @cronicadelespacio.bsky.social · 10d

A Subtle Return of La Niña
science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-...

A Subtle Return of La Niña - NASA Science

A weak La Niña emerged in the equatorial Pacific in late 2025, and scientists are watching how it may help shape weather and climate in the months ahead.

science.nasa.gov

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Extreme Temperatures Around the World @extremetemps.bsky.social · 10d

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Rainforest @pitbullmtkerr.bsky.social · 11d

Improve soil health

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...

Put your rake down! Fallen leaves are healthy for soil and wildlife

Scientists say leaving autumn leaves on the ground can add important nutrients to the soil and create needed habitat for insects.

www.mprnews.org

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 14d

GEO-TREES is pleased to announce the call for proposals for 2026 GEO-TREES Postdoctoral Fellowships.

This is an opportunity for recent PhD graduates to conduct research at GEO-TREES sites in collaboration with site PIs and others.

Closing date Jan 20 2026

Info ->
geo-trees.org/downloads/GE...

geo-trees.org

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Tommaso Jucker, Pierre Mariotte

Journal of Ecology @journalofecology.bsky.social · 15d

🏆We are pleased to announce that our Eminent Ecologist for 2025 is Angela Moles!

✨Angela has collected a few of her favourite Journal of Ecology papers together here: buff.ly/86uQ6v5

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 17d

The past and future of known biodiversity.

Species discovery is taxonomist-limited (!)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

InfoAmazonia @infoamazonia.org · 17d

Estado mais agrícola da região Norte, o Pará registra recordes de intoxicação por pesticidas; indígenas e trabalhadores rurais denunciam avanço da soja em áreas de moradia e contaminação de rios e igarapés

Intoxicações por agrotóxicos crescem 545% em área de soja e milho no Pará

infoamazonia.org

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · 21d

President of the Royal Society Sir Paul Nurse has spoken out on the challenges currently facing science, criticising those who put ideology ahead of evidence and called for smarter funding of UK science: royalsociety.org/news/2025/12...

New President speaks out on challenges to science | Royal Society

Paul Nurse, the new President of the Royal Society has criticised those who put ideology ahead of evidence and called for smarter funding of UK science.

royalsociety.org

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 22d

🚨Paper Alert: Pan-Amazon Technical Insight
The new article “Are tropical forest science and policy disconnected?” examines how “timber species” are (mis-)understood by scientists, national forest administrations, and international organizations across Amazonia.
Ximena Herrera-Alvarez et al.

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Flight Free UK @flightfreeuk.bsky.social · 23d

Interesting new study on public support for 'degrowth' policies shows that reducing consumption might not be as unpopular as you think! Are we ready to confront the elephant in the room: our addiction to flying?

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Assessing public support for degrowth: survey-based experimental and predictive studies

Contrary to concerns from politicians and commentators that degrowth is broadly unpopular, the core degrowth proposal received substantial support from UK and US participants in this study, regardless...

www.thelancet.com

Reposted by Mathias Disney

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · 24d

Important paper showing the dearth of plant taxonomists in the tropical countries that need them most

www.cell.com/trends/plant...

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Rosaleen Duffy, Sofía Campana

Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 25d

Plant taxonomy is disappearing - and so is our ability to protect species 🍂

Nearly half of countries have fewer than 10 plant taxonomists. Kew is working to close the gap, but we need more experts fast.

Read the study’s key findings and what we're doing about it 👇
https://ow.ly/XhJo50XyGAa

Illustration showing a person examining a plant with text about the scarcity of plant taxonomists worldwide.

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Mathias Disney , and 1 more Oliver L. Phillips, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Mathias Disney, Martin Ehbrecht

Tommaso Jucker @tommaso-jucker.bsky.social · Nov 26

🚨Paper alert🚨

Check out Beibei Zhang's latest work out today @royalsocietypublishing.org where we track the 3D structural recovery of Australia's Great Western Woodlands following wildfires over a chronosequence spanning half a millenia!🌳🛰️🔥🧪

royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/...

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Pierre Friedlingstein @pfriedling.bsky.social · Nov 25

For once, some good news about the Amazon tropical forest 🌳

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Increasing tree size across Amazonia - Nature Plants

A global research network monitoring the Amazon for 30 years reports in this study that tree size increased by 3% each decade.

www.nature.com

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Nov 25

Here are two beautiful Lauraceae trees from the wet forest remnants of Colombia's Magdalena Medio.

How many more species remain unknown to science in what remains of the Andean forests?
abm.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/ab...

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Nov 24

RIP Jimmy

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 24

Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae singer who helped popularize the genre with songs like “You Can Get It If You Really Want” and “The Harder They Come,” died at 81 of pneumonia, his wife said. Read more about his life and legacy: nyti.ms/4pxqKao

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Nov 24

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Flight Free UK @flightfreeuk.bsky.social · Nov 24

Cop30 shows we need real climate action, fast. Choosing not to fly is hard, but many travellers say slowing down gave them more, lower emissions and a bigger sense of purpose. Overland travel is better for the planet and the experience.
#ClimateAction
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

UN warns world losing climate battle but fragile Cop30 deal keeps up the fight

Reaching agreement in divisive political landscape shows ‘climate cooperation is alive and kicking’, says UN climate chief

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

CIFOR-ICRAF @cifor-icraf.org · Nov 24

#COP30 was meant to deliver a stronger global push to protect forests. But in Belém, negotiations closed without a binding commitment to halt deforestation.

CIFOR-ICRAF's Robert Nasi breaks down what this means for climate action

Read the full piece:🔗 https://bit.ly/4pssdyE

#Trees4Resilience

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Stephen D. Murphy

Mongabay @mongabay.com · Nov 22

A 30,019-hectare forest in Santa Cruz, Bolivia may soon be sold to agribusiness giant Bom Futuro, which plans to clear it, documents show.

Conservationists warn the area is a key part of the Chiquitano dry forest, linking the Amazon, Gran Chaco & Cerrado.

The land deal threatening a vital piece of Bolivia’s Chiquitano dry forest

A large forest in eastern Bolivia is on the verge of being sold to an international agriculture company, raising concerns that it might be razed to make room for new cropland. The 30,019-hectare…

news.mongabay.com

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips, Gavin L. Foster, David N. Thomas , and 1 more Oliver L. Phillips, Gavin L. Foster, David N. Thomas, Tim Stephens

The Keeling Curve @keelingcurve.bsky.social · Nov 21

425.82 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in air 20-Nov-2025
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu

The Keeling Curve

The Keeling Curve is a daily record of global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration maintained by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

keelingcurve.ucsd.edu

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Nov 21

Clark, J.L. & D.A. Neill. 2025. Sumacoa (Gesneriaceae), an arborescent new genus from the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador. Systematic Botany 51(1): 4–12.

Reposted by Markus P. Eichhorn

ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Nov 21

New plant genus discovered in the Andes. Sumacoa barbata is an arborescent Gesneriad endemic to Cordillera del Cóndor.
David Neill, co-author of the study and legendary figure in neotropical botany, passed away this year. Sumacoa represents both a scientific milestone and a tribute to his legacy.

Reposted by Oliver L. Phillips

Mongabay @mongabay.com · Nov 21

Brazil is pushing the Tapajós River waterway as one of the main Amazon shipping corridors and preparing it for privatization, which will enable regular dredging and maintenance.

Traditional communities and environmental groups warn that dredging and vessel traffic threaten turtles, fish and more.