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| Name |
Belnap, Jayne |
| Location
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U.S. Geological Survey |
| Primary Field
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Environmental Sciences and Ecology |
| Secondary Field
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Human Environmental Sciences |
 Election Citation
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Jayne Belnap's work has highlighted the importance of dryland ecosystems globally, exploring how to optimize human use while conserving their structure and function.
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Research Interests
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Jayne Belnap's research has focused on dryland ecosystems. Because land use can reduce the fertility and stability of these ecosystems, her main research has been on how these lands can be managed sustainably while still used for human purposes (e.g., grazing, recreation, and/or energy/mineral acquisition). Specifically, her seminal work in dryland regions has resulted in an entirely new subfield of ecology, biological soil crusts. She and others have shown these communities to play a critical role in increasing the stability and fertility of soils and influencing local to global hydrologic cycles. She has also been actively engaged in studies on how climate change will affect drylands ecosystems and in developing adaptation options for people using and managing these lands. Dr. Belnap has been involved in many creative and successful restoration efforts aimed at reducing soil erosion and restoring plant productivity using local materials and labor. Her research has been conducted, and informed management and policy around the world, including Argentina, Antarctica, Australia, Chile, China, Ethiopia, Iceland, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, the western U.S., and Zimbabwe. She has trained numerous federal, state, and private land managers/pastoralists and policy makers on best management practices for ecosystems in dryland regions.
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