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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 13h

@manudelbaq.bsky.social Miguel Berdugo. Many congratulations to all the authors for this outstanding interdisciplinary work that beautifully bridges ecology, physics, and mathematics to reveal the hidden order of nature.

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 13h

In #drylands, plants don’t grow randomly — they self-organize into disordered hyperuniform patterns that help them use water wisely & endure extreme aridity. A beautiful hidden logic of nature, revealed in a new @pnas.org study doi.org/10.1073/pnas... including #Maestrelab alumni

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 2d

New study in @universitypress.cambridge.org #CambridgePrismsDrylands reveals how landscape- & patch-scale processes shape the “fertile island effect” in the Chihuahuan Desert, illustrating the importance of spatial heterogeneity in drylands doi.org/10.1017/dry.... 📷by Patricia Zumsteg @unsplash.com

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 21d

Powerful piece by @darmenteras.bsky.social in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Global science won’t be equitable until it goes beyond diversity optics & truly shares power, credit & leadership. A must-read for anyone committed to promote a more fair and just science www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Equity in science is a beautiful lie — and I’m done pretending

Science isn’t really moving towards equity; institutions are just perfecting the appearance of equity. We need to build an alternative system.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Amigas de la Tierra @amigasdelatierra.bsky.social · 24d

🔥Más de 400.000 hectáreas han ardido solo este año, otro año más.

🗣️Nuestro compañero @migueldiazcarro.bsky.social echa la mirada hacia adelante en este problema y hacia el futuro, en la restauración, con la miranda en lo comunitario y escuchando a la ciencia

🔗 www.elsaltodiario.com/incendios-fo...

El calor que quedará después de los incendios

El calor y los incendios no son una anomalía, son la consecuencia de un modelo económico que ha saqueado las entrañas de la tierra y ha quemado sistemáticamente su sangre y su piel.

www.elsaltodiario.com

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 25d

📸 by Johny Goerend @unsplash.com

Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 25d

🌍 We’re excited to host the Future Food Systems Conference (FFS2026) at #KAUST with #PlantACT!
📅 Apr 13–15, 2026 | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
A global gathering to reimagine how to feed the world without eating the planet
👉 Free registration & info: kaust.edu.sa/events/ffs26/

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Pablo García-Palacios @pablogarciapal.bsky.social · Sep 5

Great thread on our recent lab paper in @geoderma.bsky.social on how SOC fractions regulate ecosystem services in global drylands

Nicely led by Luna McGill as part of her PhD at ICA @csic.es @cesarplaza.bsky.social @ftmaestre.bsky.social @manudelbaq.bsky.social

Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Sep 5

Our new article is out in @geoderma.bsky.social! Drylands, which cover 40% of Earth’s land, store ~30% of global soil organic carbon. But how do different carbon fractions support ecosystem services under rising aridity? 🏜️
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Sep 5

This work is part of the @erc.europa.eu funded BIODESERT global survey and was led by Luna Mgill who did a great job leading this collaboration with @manudelbaq.bsky.social @cesarplaza.bsky.social & @pablogarciapal.bsky.social

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Sep 5

Our findings suggest that the loss of particulate & mineral-associated organic carbon with aridification threatens not only soil C storage but also essential ecosystem services.
➡️ Protecting SOC fractions is critical to sustain dryland resilience under climate change.

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Sep 5

🔎 We analyzed 251 dryland ecosystems worldwide and found that:
✔️ POC & MAOC are linked to carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water regulation & biomass production.
✔️ Their role depends on vegetation type & aridity.
✔️ Links weaken sharply under high aridity (>0.8).

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Sep 5

Our new article is out in @geoderma.bsky.social! Drylands, which cover 40% of Earth’s land, store ~30% of global soil organic carbon. But how do different carbon fractions support ecosystem services under rising aridity? 🏜️
📖 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge...

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 19

As stated by this press release from @unccd.bsky.social we must overhaul global food systems to avert worsening land crisis unccd.int/news-stories... Read the @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature Review here rdcu.be/eBlid

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 17

y hay comisiones en q un evaluador puede evaluar unas 180-200 solicitudes. Dime quien puede leerse > 1000 papers para evaluar su contenido objetivamente...

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 17

En que hay cambiar calidad por cantidad estamos todos de acuerdo. El problema es cómo hacerlo bien. Si para evaluar CVs a partir de ahora se cuentan solo 5 papers por candidato/a es factible en muchos casos. Pero piensa que convocatorias como los sexenios tienen más de 10000 solicitudes al año

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 17

No conozco los detalles pero así suena a ocurrencia que no tiene mucho sentido. Qué pasa si tienes 4 estudiantes que tienen un artículo para enviar y tú eres coautor en todos? Lo echamos a suertes para ver quien es el/la afortunado que puede publicar?

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 15

Very glad to see this report in @elmundo.es.web.brid.gy elmundo.es/ciencia-y-sa... about our recent @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature review rdcu.be/eACfr Let´s hope that it will contribute to much-needed discussions & action around food systems 2 ensure a healthier, safer & more peaceful future

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Lindsay Stringer @proflinds.bsky.social · Aug 14

Great to be a coauthor of this new paper in @natureportfolio.nature.com which provides a comprehensive set of solutions to bend the land degradation curve & leverage the transformation of global #food systems. #land #climate #biodiversity @yesiuoy.bsky.social @uoyenvironment.bsky.social

Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 14

To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Frédérique Reverchon @drafred.bsky.social · Aug 14

Bending the curve of land degradation to achieve global environments goals

Much needed review by @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.

Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 14

To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Pablo García-Palacios @pablogarciapal.bsky.social · Aug 14

Masterpiece on one of the most critical challenges our society faces: land degradation

Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 14

To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 14

El cambio climático se acelera, la biodiversidad se desploma y la degradación de la tierra avanza sin cesar ¿y si la herramienta más poderosa —y a menudo pasada por alto— para abordar estas tres crisis estuviera en nuestros platos? elpais.com/clima-y-medi... @elpais.com

El futuro del planeta se decide en la mesa

El sistema alimentario global es responsable del 80% de la deforestación de nuestro planeta

elpais.com

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Aug 14

To meet the targets of the #UN Rio Conventions (#UNCCD, #UNFCCC & #CBD) we must bend the curve of land degradation. Our latest Review in @natureportfolio.nature.com #Nature discusses how to do it by 2050 by urgently transforming global food systems rdcu.be/eACfr #KAUST

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Reposted by Fernando T. Maestre

Nicolas Gross @nicolas-p-gross.bsky.social · Aug 14

A must read

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

from @ftmaestre.bsky.social et al.!

Bending the curve of land degradation to achieve global environmental goals - Nature

The Rio Conventions’ objectives can be met by transforming food systems to bend the curve of land degradation.

www.nature.com

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Jun 24

#Biocrusts are vital to dryland health—but can they recover after being disturbed? 🤔A new review in @botsocamerica.bsky.social #AmJBot by @michalaphillips.bsky.social & al explores biocrust recovery timelines, climate impacts & restoration potential bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Navigating the possibilities and pitfalls of biocrust recovery in a changing climate

Biological soil crusts are complex communities composed of lichens, mosses, bacteria, and cyanobacteria that create a living skin on the soil surface across drylands worldwide. Although small in size...

bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · Jun 17

Today is #DesertificationAndDroughtDay 🌍Our lab at #KAUST
studies how to restore and manage drylands to boost biodiversity, fight climate change & support livelihoods Let’s #RestoreLand and #UnlockOpportunities—for people and the planet

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