Mariana Aguiar Sousa

I am conducting a Ph.D. in Biology by the University of Azores starting in 2026 within the Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation (IBBC). I am conducting the project Assessment of the effectiveness of the Azores' terrestrial protected areas in the conservation of native flora, under the supervision of Rui Miguel Pires Bento da Silva Elias e Rosalina Maria de Almeida Gabriel, in Island Biodiversity, Biogeography & Conservation (IBBC). My PhD project aims are: to assess the adequacy of the current network of protected areas for the conservation of native flora; to rank priority areas for conservation, both within and outside of Natural Parks; to identify priority areas that currently lack protection or have inadequate protection status; to develop potential distribution models for native and invasive species based on climate projections for the end of the century; and to propose adjustments to the existing protected areas—including, if necessary, the establishment of new ones—to ensure their effectiveness in conserving the terrestrial native flora of the Azores.