Wilma J. Blaser Hart
Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/27450 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/1246
Dr
Wilma J. Blaser Hart
Email: : w.hart@uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 344 38930
Positions
Postdoctoral Research Fellow : School of the Environment : Faculty of Science
Overview
Background
How do we feed the world, adapt to and mitigate climate change, and conserve biodiversity? My research addresses these critical questions by quantifying the trade-offs between agricultural production, climate change, and biodiversity in tropical agricultural landscapes. A key focus of my work is agroforestry—the strategic integration of trees into cultivated lands. While agroforests are not a one-size-fits-all solution, my research shows that agroforestry, when informed by a quantitative understanding of these trade-offs, can improve biodiversity and climate outcomes without compromising agricultural productivity.
Through fieldwork and conservation planning, and in collaboration with my wonderful colleagues at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science (CBCS), I aim to understand how agricultural landscapes can be optimized across large geographic areas, to best meet conflicting goals and improve biodiversity outcomes. The goal of this work is to improve sustainability outcomes across West Africa, where tropical forests have been rapidly converted in order to produce 60% of the world’s cocoa.
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Availability
Dr Wilma J. Blaser Hart is: : Available for supervision
Fields of research
Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Agroforestry Biological Sciences Climate change impacts and adaptation Ecology Environmental Sciences Forestry sciences
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Environmental Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich
- Masters (Coursework), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich
- Doctor of Philosophy of Science (Advanced), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich
Research interests
-
Agroforestry
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Works
Search Professor Wilma J. Blaser Hart’s works on UQ eSpace
All (52) Journal Article (26) Other Outputs (26)
Featured
2025
Journal Article
The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity
Becker, Alexander, Wegner, Jan D., Dawoe, Evans, Schindler, Konrad, Thompson, William J., Bunn, Christian, Garrett, Rachael D., Castro-Llanos, Fabio, Hart, Simon P. and Blaser-Hart, Wilma J. (2025). The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity. Nature Sustainability, 8 (9), 994-1003. doi: 10.1038/s41893-025-01608-7
The unrealized potential of agroforestry for an emissions-intensive agricultural commodity
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Cocoa plantations are associated with deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
Kalischek, Nikolai, Lang, Nico, Renier, Cécile, Daudt, Rodrigo Caye, Addoah, Thomas, Thompson, William, Blaser-Hart, Wilma J., Garrett, Rachael, Schindler, Konrad and Wegner, Jan D. (2023). Cocoa plantations are associated with deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Nature Food, 4 (5), 384-393. doi: 10.1038/s43016-023-00751-8
Cocoa plantations are associated with deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests
Blaser, W. J., Oppong, J., Hart, S. P., Landolt, J., Yeboah, E. and Six, J. (2018). Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests. Nature Sustainability, 1 (5), 234-239. doi: 10.1038/s41893-018-0062-8
Climate-smart sustainable agriculture in low-to-intermediate shade agroforests
2025
Journal Article
Existing Sustainability Interventions are Insufficient to Scale Up Cocoa Agroforestry in West Africa
Kouakou, Keessy Maria‐Prisca, Lyons‐White, Joss, Thompson, William J., Addoah, Thomas, Cammelli, Federico, Blaser‐Hart, Wilma J., Maguire‐Rajpaul, Victoria, Dawoe, Evans and Garrett, Rachael D. (2025). Existing Sustainability Interventions are Insufficient to Scale Up Cocoa Agroforestry in West Africa. Sustainable Development sd.70266. doi: 10.1002/sd.70266
Existing Sustainability Interventions are Insufficient to Scale Up Cocoa Agroforestry in West Africa
2025
Journal Article
Ecosystem changes caused by hydrological change are associated with population decline in a formerly-common grazing herbivore
Blaser-Hart, W. J., Shanungu, G. K., Edwards, P. J., Harms, J., Hart, S. P. H., Ellenbroek, G. A., van Gils, H. A. M. J., Simukonda, C. and Olde Venterink, H. (2025). Ecosystem changes caused by hydrological change are associated with population decline in a formerly-common grazing herbivore. Ecosystems, 28 (1) 14, 1. doi: 10.1007/s10021-024-00951-8
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part B)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part B). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/6199f9b
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part B)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Aboisso)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Aboisso). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b46b1ff
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images & polygons CIV Aboisso)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Maps of agro-climatic zones)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Maps of agro-climatic zones). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/844d738
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Maps of agro-climatic zones)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part E)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part E). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2418854
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part E)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part B)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part B). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/760cdba
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part B)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part F)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part F). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/c61a4b2
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part F)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part C)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part C). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/3f196df
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part C)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 all exports)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 all exports). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/a2ecf22
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2022 all exports)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part B)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part B). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/ed7edcd
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part B)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 all exports)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 all exports). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/09565b6
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Processed maps GHA 2021 all exports)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part A)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part A). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/633959b
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part A)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part A)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part A). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b984bf4
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 High Shade Part A)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (climate mitigation potential analysis)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (climate mitigation potential analysis). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/dda018c
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (climate mitigation potential analysis)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/2f89edd
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2021 Part D)
2025
Other Outputs
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D)
Hart, Wilma J. Blaser and Hart, Simon (2025). The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8e8eaa1
The unrealised potential of agroforestry (Raw drone images GHA 2022 Part D)
Funding
Current funding
- 2024 - 2027
Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa
Lindt Cocoa Foundation
Past funding
- 2021 - 2023
Dr Wilma Hart - Maternity Funding
Advance Queensland Women's Research Assistance Program
Open grant - 2021 - 2024
Sustainable sourcing policies for biodiversity protection, climate mitigation, and improved livelihoods in the cocoa sector (BiodivERsA grant administered by ETH Zurich)
ETH Zurich
Open grant - 2021 - 2023
Spatially explicit recommendations for optimal levels of shade-tree cover for sustainable cocoa production
European Cocoa Association AISBL
Open grant - 2020 - 2024
Methods and a tool for remotely estimating shade-tree cover & carbon stocks, and for developing spatially explicit recommendations for cocoa agroforests
ETH Zurich
Supervision
Availability
Dr Wilma J. Blaser Hart is: : Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Socio-ecological drivers of natural forest regeneration in cocoa-growing landscapes.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Dwyer, Professor Richard Fuller, Dr Simon Hart - Doctor Philosophy
##### Improving biodiversity outcomes in West African cocoa
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Fuller, Associate Professor Matthew Luskin, Dr Simon Hart
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