Curriculum Vitae
Name: Rodolfo Martinez Morales
Nationality: Mexican
Age: 45 yrs
Marital status: Married
Languages: English, French, native Spanish
Place of Birth and Date: Tezonapa, Veracruz, Mexico on November 24, 1967
Contact information:
Biology Department, Northern Arizona University
PO Box 5640, Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Telephone: office 928-523-6587, Cellular: 928-221-9526
Emails: rodolfo.martinez-morales@nau.edu, rodolfom@hawaiii.edu
Education
2006-2010
Ph.D. on Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM), University of
Hawaii at Manoa, 1910 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822.
1996-1997
One year training on remote sensing and geographical information systems for vegetation
and soil mapping. Geography Department, University of California, Santa Barbara.
1991-1994
M. Sc. in Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1910 East-West
Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822.
1984-1989
B. Sc. in Agronomy and Soil Science, Soils Department (Departamento de Suelos),
Autonomous University of Chapingo (Universidad Autonoma Chapingo), Campus
Chapingo, Mexico.
Professional Experience
June 2013-15:
Postdoctoral Scholar at Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern
Arizona University. I am currently working on climate change and drought effects on
forests across the US Southwest. My research is focused on developing GIS and remotesensing methods to determine how various landscape-scale land, vegetation and
hydrological processes are changing due to climate change effects and how forest
management actions are mitigating short and long term changes.
Undergoing projects:
 Effect of the 2000s drought on water availability in Arizona’s forests: As surface
water supply generated in Arizona derives largely from the forests, assessments
on how much drought will affect water supply for stream ecosystems, human
consumption and irrigated agriculture downstream are required to prioritize
regional and local management. The objective of this study is to investigate the
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effects of ten years of drought in precipitation (PPT) and stream water discharge
(SWD) across Northern Arizona forests. The investigation is being carried out
through the analysis of existing data on PPT, SWD, and evapotranspiration, in
relation with exogenous factors such as elevation, drainage area, and soil, rock
and vegetation types.
Submitted proposals as collaborator with Dr. George Koch:
 Climate change resilience and management of southwestern forests. Unaccepted
proposal by the Southwest Climate Science Center in June 2013.
 Effects of forest fires and management on forest hydrology in the Southwest: an
integrated analysis to inform decision-making. Submitted on Dec 11, 2013 and
under review by the BLM Joint Fire Science Program.
2011-2013:
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT),
Niamey, Niger: Senior Scientist, Tree-Crop Research Program Head and Head of the
GIS and Remote Sensing Unit.
Human Resources Management: One scientific officer and five technicians as Head of
the tree-crop research program; Two GIS specialists as Head of the GIS and Remote
Sensing Unit.
My research focused on integrating environmental, agro-ecological and socio-economic
knowledge at landscape and regional scales to increase and diversify agricultural
production systems in the dry lands while simultaneously reducing negative
environmental impacts and restoring degraded lands. The overall goal was to develop
adoptable and economically viable strategies to increase and diversify smallholder food
production, improve the productive capacity of soils and enhance ecosystem services
through improvements in soil vegetative cover, nutrient cycling and availability and
carbon storage.
Management of funded research projects:
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Developing an integrated crop-agroforestry approach in Sahelian environments. A
three-year project (2011-2014) with a total budget of US$150,000 granted by
NGO World Vision.
Designing an intensive vegetable production system in the Sahel under irrigation
systems operated by solar energy (2011-2013). A two-year project funded by
NGO SELF (Solar Electric Light Fund) with a total budget of US$160,000.
An integrated strategy for crop-tree-livestock integration in West Africa (20122015). A three-year project funded by the McNight Foundation with a total
budget of US$300,000.
2010-2011
Director of Terrestrial Science at the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos,
Ecuador.
Human resources management:A group that included 5 international scientist and 15
junior scientists and technicians from Ecuador were directly under my supervision.
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My research focused on determining anthropogenic impacts in several islands of the
Galapagos archipelago from agriculture, ranching, introduced plants and urban
expansion. These activities have contributed to extensive degradation of soil and
vegetation resources which greatly affects the health of terrestrial ecosystems, reduces
critical habitat for native flora and fauna, and facilitates invasion by introduced species. I
collaborated with groups of scientists from the US, England, Germany, France, Australia,
Ecuador and agencies of the Government of Ecuador to develop and implement efficient
monitoring strategies for terrestrial ecosystems in order to achieve a more complete
assessment of ecological conditions at watershed and landscape levels across the islands.
Management of funded research projects:

An integrated soil and vegetation survey in Floreana island to assess ecological
restoration needs. A one-year project (2010-2011) funded by NGO Galapagos
Conservation Trust with a total budget of US$100,000.
2006-2010
Research assistant at the Tropical Agroforestry Laboratory, Department of Natural
Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
I developed methodologies for the assessment of forest growth, productivity and health at
watershed and landscape levels using advanced remote sensing, GIS, GPS and statistical
modeling technologies. This project improved existing classification and characterization
of individual tree species across a wide range of climates and elevations in the Islands of
Hawaii. It also provided more accurate assessments of forest health of important native
tree species that will aid development of regional programs to combat the spread of pest
and disease.
Grant proposal:
 In 2008, I developed a grant proposal funded by the Hawaii Division of Forestry
and Wildlife for the amount of US $20,000 to acquire fine resolution satellite
imagery for development of methodologies to detect the spread of koa (Acacia
koa) wilt disease across the Islands of Hawaii.
2000-2005
Agricultural Program Coordinator and Head of the Laboratory of Geographical
Information Systems and Remote Sensing, State Government of Veracruz, Mexico.
Human resources management: three junior managers and 15 technicians were directly
under my supervision.
I developed projects that included the elaboration of feasibility studies and environmental
impact assessments for the development of government projects on agriculture, forestry,
and watershed management using GIS and remote sensing.
Management of funded development projects:
 Development of a state-wide digital cartography information system in support of
the State of Veracruz agricultural development. A two-year project (2004-2005)
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funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with a total budget
of US $200,000.
1995-2000
Researcher at the Laboratory of Geographical Information Systems and Remote
Sensing, Institute of Geography, National University of Mexico. I collaborated in a 2
year project funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency focused on the
assessment of land use change using historical Landsat satellite imagery. Through this
program, I established collaboration ties with researchers at the Geography Department,
University of California, Santa Barbara to complete the national forest inventory in
Mexico.
1992-1994
Research Assistant at the Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology, Agronomy and
Soil Science Department, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
I collaborated in a 2-year project funded by NASA focused on the development of micrometeorological measurement techniques (Eddy-covariance and Bowen-ratio) to quantify
fluxes of greenhouse gases such as nitrogen oxides (nitric and nitrous oxide), carbon
dioxide, ozone and methane from agricultural areas in Hawaii. These findings were part
of the global assessments of tropical agriculture impacts on global warming.
Publications
Martinez Morales, R. (2012). Using Remotely Sensed Imagery for Forest Resource
Assessment and Inventory, in Forest Ecosystems-More than Just Trees (Eds. Juan A.
Blanco and Yueh-Hsin Lo, http://www.intechopen.com/books/forest-ecosystems-morethan-just-trees), INTECH, Open Access Company, Rijeka, Croatia.
Martinez Morales, R., Idol, T. and Chen, Q. (2012). Classification of Koa (Acacia koa)
forest stands across an environmental gradient in Hawai‘i using fine resolution remotely
sensed imagery, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 33(11), 3492-3511.
Martinez Morales, R., Idol, T. and Friday, J.B. (2011). Remote sensing of Acacia koa
forest health across elevation and climate gradients in Hawaii, Sensors, 11, 5677-5694;
doi:10.3390/s110605677.
Martinez Morales, R. and Idol, T. (2010). Using remote sensing to assess forest structure
and growth at the tree level. Hawaii Forest Journal, Vol. 5, August 2010.
Martinez Morales, R. (2010). Differentiation of forest stands, assessment of forest health
and silvicultural guidelines for growing and managing the native Hawaiian hardwood
Acacia koa. PhD thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Martinez Morales, R., Miura T, and Idol TW. (2008). An assessment of Hawaiian dry
forest condition and restoration potential with fine resolution remote sensing. Forest
Ecology and Management, 255:2524-2532.
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Tosquy, O., Martinez Morales, R. (2005). Comportamiento Agronomico de hibridos de
maiz en dos municipios de Veracruz, Mexico. Agronomia Measoamericana, 16(1):7-12.
Martinez Morales, R. (1994). Fluxes of greenhouse gases from a sugarcane field in
Hawaii. MSc. Thesis, University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Professional Presentations
Martinez-Morales, R., Koch, G. and B. Hungate. Effects of 10 years of drought (20002009) on forest hydrology in Northern Arizona. 12th Biennial Conference of Science and
Management on the Colorado Plateau, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona,
September 16–19, 2013
Martinez-Morales R. and Saidou Abdoussalam. An integrated agro-ecological cropping
system strategy to increase sustainable food production and climate change adaptation in
West Africa. Global Research Alliance (http://www.theglobalresearchalliance.org)
Workshop on measuring greenhouse emissions and climate change adaptation in West
Africa. Accra, Ghana, Nov 19-21, 2012.
Martinez-Morales R. and Saidou Abdoussalam. Rock phosphate application and Sesbania
(a wild legume shrub) planting: an integrated strategy to double millet and sorghum
yields in the Sahel. Integrated Soil Fertility Management Conference (ISFM 2012: From
Microbes to market, www.isfmafrica2012.org) Nairobi, Kenya, Oct 22-26, 2012.
Martinez-Morales R. and Saidou Abdoussalam. An integrated agro-ecological cropping
system strategy to increase sustainable food production and climate change adaptation in
West Africa. CORAF/WECARD agricultural science week. Njamena, Tchad, May, 2012.
Martinez-Morales R, Idol T and Chen Q. Acacia koa forest classification and productivity
assessment across environmental gradients in Hawaii using fine resolution remotely
sensed imagery. American Geophysical Union Joint Assembly, Toronto, Canada, May
23-27, 2009.
Friday J, Idol T, Scowcroft P and Martinez-Morales R. Carbon Sequestration Possibilities
in Koa Forest Restoration. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30, 2009. Hawaii
Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.
Martinez-Morales R, Idol T, Friday JB, and Chen Q. Remote Sensing of Acacia koa
Forest Growth, Productivity, and Health Across Elevation and Climate Gradients. Hawaii
Conservation Conference. July 28-30, 2008. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu,
HI.
Friday, J.B., Scowcroft, P., Idol, T., Dudley, N., Haraguchi, J., Meason, D., MartinezMorales, R. Management of Young Koa Forests. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July
28-30, 2008. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.
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Martinez-Morales R and Idol T. Remote Sensing Applications in the Study of Tropical
Forest Ecosystems. Graduate Student Symposium. College of Tropical Agriculture and
Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, April 11-12, 2008.
Martinez-Morales R, Miura T, and Idol T. An assessment of Hawaiian Dry Forest
Condition with Fine Resolution Remote Sensing. February 11-15, 2008. USDA Forest
Health Monitoring Working Group Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
Friday, J.B., Scowcroft, P., Idol, T., Dudley, N., Haraguchi, J., Meason, D., MartinezMorales, R. Management of Koa Stands. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30,
2007. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.
Martinez-Morales R, Miura T, and Idol T. Advanced remote sensing methodologies for
the assessment of Hawaiian Dry Forest conditions. Hawaii Conservation Conference.
July 28-30, 2006. Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Honolulu, HI.
Courses Taught
Principles and applications of remote sensing and GIS technologies for natural resource
assessment and management at the International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid Tropics, Niamey, Niger and Hyderabad, India.
Application of remote sensing and GIS technologies for natural resource assessment and
management at the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.
Principles of Remote Sensing for Vegetation Studies at Los Tuxtlas Biological Station,
National University of Mexico (UNAM).
Principles of Remote Sensing for Agricultural Applications at University of Veracruz
(Universidad Veracruzana) and Postgraduate College (Colegio de Posgraduados) Campus
Veracruz, Mexico.
Principles of Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring at various Technological
Institutes in Veracruz, Mexico.
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