IUCN CEM Urban Ecosystems Specialist Group

Jennifer Rae Pierce is a political ecologist, urban planner, and urban biodiversity policy specialist with 18 years of experience with cities and nature. In addition to leading the IUCN CEM Urban Ecosystems Specialist Working Group she also represents CEM on the IUCN Urban Alliance. She has prepared local government tools and reports including a biodiversity and ecosystem services mainstreaming toolkit for ICLEI, the Urban Nature Indexes for IUCN, the Science-Based Targets for Cities for Nature, ecological footprint measures with BCIT, and serves a consultant on urban biodiversity for the World Bank. Her published research includes global comparative work across hundreds of cities as well as more in-depth explorations of cities in Thailand, India, Japan, Singapore, Israel, Canada, the USA, Brazil, and South Africa. Jennifer holds an architecture degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University, and a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Central European University. She has submitted her PhD dissertation in planning at the University of British Columbia on urban biodiversity worldviews and justice.

Dr. Opeyemi Adeyemi (Yemi) is a forestry and environmental scientist and a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria. His research focuses on the human dimensions of forestry and environmental science, with particular emphasis on socio-ecological systems, urban forestry, ecosystem services, and community participation. His work adopts interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological field methods, social science research, GIS/remote sensing, and policy engagement.

He holds a PhD in Forest Science from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and has international research, teaching, and consultancy experience across Africa, Europe, and Asia. His research explores how social, cultural, institutional, and spatial factors shape human–nature interactions in urban landscapes, with a focus on equity, governance, and sustainability.

Yemi has published in leading international peer-reviewed journals, including Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, secured competitive international research funding, and contributes to high-level scientific and policy processes as a Fellow of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He has held visiting research appointments in Thailand and Finland, supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students, and currently serves as a Contributing Editor for Cities and the Environment (CATE) Journal

Jayshree Shukla is an early career ecologist working at the interdisciplinary nexus of climate-adaptive ecosystem conservation and restoration of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. She holds an MS degree in Biological Sciences and is currently earning her PhD from Adelaide University, Australia. Her research explores coastal vulnerability to climate change and pathways to mitigate its impacts through improved restoration, conservation, and management. After serving as a member of IUCN-CEM South Asia for 5 years, she’s now an active YP member in IUCN-CEM Oceania, covering Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. She has contributed to and authored multiple international peer-reviewed publications bridging urban and coastal habitat ecology. Her work is driven by a strong commitment to applied, climate-relevant research that supports real-world conservation outcomes for both ecosystems and communities.