About Me
My research focuses on coastal socio-ecological systems, with particular emphasis on mangrove ecosystems, climate change, carbon sequestration and resilience. I am interested in understanding the interactions between ecological processes and human activities in coastal areas, and in developing interdisciplinary approaches that can support climate-change mitigation, adaptation and sustainable coastal management. My current work combines socio-ecological systems thinking, integrated coastal management and DPSIR-based approaches to analyse drivers of environmental change, interactions between people and ecosystems, knowledge and information flows, and opportunities for strengthening resilience. I am particularly interested in linking ecological evidence, local and traditional knowledge, and stakeholder perspectives to inform more context-sensitive and actionable coastal management strategies, especially in the Cuban context.
Research Interests
- Coastal socio-ecological systems and resilience
- Mangrove ecology, carbon sequestration and climate change
- Socio-ecological interactions and human-environment relationships
- Integrated coastal management
- DPSIR, participatory approaches and knowledge integration
Highlighted Publications
Cruz Portorreal, Y., Beenaerts, N., Koedam, N., Reyes Dominguez, O. J., Milanes, C. B., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., & Pérez Montero, O. (2024). Perception of mangrove social–ecological system governance in southeastern Cuba. Water, 16(17), 2495. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16172495
Cruz Portorreal, Y., Reyes Dominguez, O. J., Milanes, C. B., Mestanza-Ramón, C., Cuker, B., & Pérez Montero, O. (2022). Environmental Policy and Regulatory Framework for Managing Mangroves as a Carbon Sink in Cuba. Water, 14(23), 3903. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233903
Carlos Troche-Souza, Ariel E. Lugo, Tamara Heartsill-Scalley, Jorge López Portillo, Samuel Velázquez-Salazar, Andrés E. Fraiz-Toma, J. Alberto Alcántara-Maya, Edgar Villeda-Chávez, Berenice Vázquez-Balderas, Luis Valderrama-Landeros, Ma. Teresa Rodríguez-Zúñiga, Juan F. Blanco-Libreros Blanco-Libreros, Yanet Cruz Portorreal, Orlando Joel Reyes Domínguez, Lenin Corrales, Ana Laura Lara Domínguez, Denisse Cortés Castillo, J. Orlando Rangel-Ch, Diana Romero-D’Achiardi, Camilo Montes-Chaura, Siuling Cinco Castro, Jorge A. Herrera-Silvera, Claudia Teutli-Hernández, Paula Cristina Sierra-Correa, David A. Sánchez-Núñez, Jaime Polanía, Miguel Beltrán Gómez, Adolfo Quesada-Román, Hayler María Pérez Trejo, Miguel Cifuentes-Jara, Ena Suarez (2024). Lista Roja de Ecosistemas de la UICN, Manglares del Atlántico Noroccidental Tropical.
Collaborators, Partners & Funders
- Hasselt university: Promotors Prof. Dr. Natalie Beenaerts & Prof. Dr. Nico Koedam