- Visiting Lecturer
- Email: daniel.silva@tamu.edu
- Office: CSA 201C
- Document: CV
- Linkedin: Profile Page
Biography
Sustainability researcher and practitioner specialized in the economic and ecological dynamics of land-use change across tropical frontiers. With over 15 years of experience spanning the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, my work bridges quantitative modeling and on-the-ground field research to understand how land markets, climate variability, and policy incentives shape deforestation, restoration, and rural development outcomes. Trained as an economist and geographer, I combine statistical and spatial analyses with qualitative insights from farmers, local institutions, and corporate actors to identify the mechanisms driving both degradation and regeneration. My current research develops integrative models linking land financialization, climate risk, and agricultural decision-making. Author and co-author of policy briefs and scientific papers focusing on environmental policies in the Brazilian Amazon and Cerrado biomes.
Job Duties
- Teaching for the Environmental System Science Program
Research Interests
- Land System Science
- Sustainability
- Environmental Economics
- Statistical Modeling
- Climate Finance
Educational Background
- PhD in Geography and Environment, University of Texas at Austin, 2025
Selected Publications
Silva, D., Arima, E. (2025). When land becomes capital: farmland financialization and sustainability in Brazil. Environ. Res. Lett. 20 114030 DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ae0faf
Silva D., et al. (2025) Corporate emissions and climate targets: Insights from high-emitting firms in Brazil’s transition to sustainability. PLOS Sustainability and Transformation 4(9): e0000198. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pstr.0000198
Silva, D. S., Arima, E. Y., dos Reis, T. N. P., & Rattis, L. (2023). Temperature effect on Brazilian soybean yields, and farmers’ responses. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2023.2173370