My research centers on understanding the complex interactions between ancient Maya populations, past climate shifts, and native vegetation. By studying these paleo-environmental records, I seek to understand how these factors shaped one of the world's most vital cultural regions. Complementary to this, I conduct studies on present-day vegetation types and conservation strategies to protect this uniquely diverse ecosystem for the future. PhD University of Amsterdam, and papers in different journals on the subject. research key words: paleoecology, Mesoamerica, biodiversity, mangroves