DAAD climapAfrica Postdoc Fellow
Université d'Abomey-Calavi
Bénin
Sylvanus Mensah (Beninese) is currently a research scientist at the Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations Forestières of the Université d’Abomey Calavi. He is an agricultural engineer and forest ecologist by training. He obtained his PhD in Forestry (2016) from Stellnebosch University (South Africa), and has ten years of research experience across fields of natural resources management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change.
In the last five years, Dr Mensah has developed a particular interest in ecological mechanisms underlying ecosystem functioning and stability in changing climate. He is motivated by the belief to produce outstanding research and to create an impact in society. He has implemented several research grants and published over 50 scientific journal articles. Dr Mensah has worked in a dynamic and stressful environment and has experiences in international, multidisciplinary, and intercultural environments in West, South, and East Africa
Climate change expertise and interests
Carbon sinks; Climate change effects on ecosystem functioning; Functional traits as a buffer for climate change and human adversity on ecosystems
Publications – (most recent)
Mensah S, Van der Plas F, Noulekoun F (2021). Do functional identity and diversity promote aboveground carbon differently in tropical semi-arid forests and savannas? Ecosphere. http://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3563
Mensah S, Salako KV, Seifert T (2020). Structural complexity and large size trees explain shifting diversity and carbon relationship across vegetation types. Functional Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13585
Mensah S, Salako KV, Assogbadjo A, Glèlè Kakaï R, Sinsin B & Seifert T (2020). Functional trait diversity is a stronger predictor of multifunctionality than dominance: evidence from an Afromontane forest in South Africa. Ecological Indicators, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106415
Professional career interests
My research interest is to generate rigorous evidence for policymaking through the application of behavioral, experimental, and quasi-experimental economic techniques to agriculture, health, education, and welfare.
I participate at climapAfrica because
It is an ideal fellowship for post-doctoral studies on climate change research in Africa because of the quality of resources and mentors involved in it. It also provides the opportunity for collaborative research through strengthening the academic capacities of African researchers. I hope to acquire a great deal of knowledge from prominent resource persons and also share my experiences with fellow postdocs from other African countries.