Prof. Stephen Adu-Bredu (PhD)

Position: Chief Research Scientist

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Tel:+233-51-60123/ +233244538772

Professional fields of interest:
Forest Ecology and Physiology, Silvicuture Systems, Carbon Sequestration

Professional background:

2015: Postgraduate Certificate in Public Administration, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)

1997: Doctor of Agricultural Sciences (Major in Forestry), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

1994: Master of Agricultural Sciences (Major in Forestry), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

1988: B.Sc. (Natural Resources Management), University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Other Professional qualification

• 22nd May 2017: Preparing and Responding to Active Shooter Incidents. Certificate of Achievement: United Nations Department of Safety and Security
• 29th May 2017: Basic Security in the Field. Certificate of Achievement: United Nations Department of Safety and Security
• 2nd June 2017: Advanced Security in the Field. Certificate of Achievement: United Nations Department of Safety and Security
• 6th – 10th February 2017: Climate Change Impact, Mitigation and Adaptation (Level 1). West Africa Science Service on Climate Change and Adaptation Land Use (WASCAL). Accra, Ghana.
• 19th – 23rd September 2016: REDD+ Monitoring, and Measurement, Reporting and Verification workshop “Training the Trainers”. Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
• 11th – 16th July 2016: Training Workshops on Ghana’s National Forest Monitoring System and Forest Reference Level. Winrock International. Kumasi, Ghana.
• 24th - 25th March 2011: Consultative Meeting on the Development of Intellectual Property Rights Policy for Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. CSIR - West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) CSIR-STEPRI Accra.
• 14th September to 8th November 2008: West African Teak Growth: Analysis of Site Index, Sapwood/Heartwood area ratio and aboveground biomass as function of environmental factors. CIRAD International Research Training Networks, Nancy, France.
• 2006-2007 Application of GIS for Sustainable Management of Forest and Tree Resources. International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. Held at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (13 weeks)
• 1st – 12th March 2004 Scientific Data Management Course. Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) Training Course; University of Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
• 20th -21st August 2003: Training of Trainers Workshop in Communication Skills. Tropenbos International-Ghana, Kumasi, Ghana.
• 8 – 26th May 2000: Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Verification and Certification of Carbon Sequestration Projects. USAID Technical Leadership Programme, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
• 18-19th March 1991: Second Kumasi International College on Energy, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Research Projects

• Ragaglini G., Burbi S., Schnabel S., Adu-Bredu S., & Ten Others (Jan 2020 - Dec 2023) Creating knowledge for understanding ecosystem services of agroforestry systems through a holistic methodological framework (UNDERTREES) (2019) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange; H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 (Proposal Number 872384)

• Addo-Danso S., Adu-Bredu S. & Malhi Y. (2018) Nutrient resorption and stoichiometric patterns along a rainfall gradient in Ghana. Royal Society Leverhulme Africa Postdoctoral Fellowships 2018 (LAF\R1\180025)

• Duah-Gyamfi A., Adu-Bredu S. & Malhi Y. (2018) Understanding environmental controls on sapflow in a lowland moist tropical forest in Ghana. Royal Society Leverhulme Africa Postdoctoral Fellowships 2018 (LAF\R1\180027)

• Yadinder Malhi & Adu-Bredu S. (Sep. 2016 – Present) The multi-year impacts of the 2015/2016 El Niño on the carbon cycle of tropical forests. Natural Environment Research Council funded (NERC Reference: (NE/P001092/1).)

• Parr C., Adu-Bredu S., Robertson M. & White L. (Jan. 2016 – Sep. 2021) Unravelling the role of animals in African Soils Ecology. Royal Society-DFID African Capacity Building Initiative (AQ150060)

• Malhi Y. & Adu-Bredu S. (Jan. 2014-Dec. 2016) Water Stress, Ecosystem Function and tree functional diversity in tropical African forests. The Leverhulme Trust - Royal Society of United Kingdom (A130026) funded.

• Mason J., Asheley Asare R. & Adu-Bredu S. (Ghana Team) (2013-2016) Exploring the ecosystem limits to poverty alleviation in African forest-agriculture landscapes. (ESPA, Funded by NERC, DFID and ESRC)

• Veenendal E.M. & Adu-Bredu S. & Ametsitsi G.K.D. (2012-2015) Savannah forest boundary transition in west Africa - Coupling the energy balance and hydrology and carbon cycles across the biome (captioned GEOCARBON) Project. European Union Funded (EU-FP7)

• Malhi Y. & Adu-Bredu S. (2011-2015) Does shifting Carbon Use Efficiency determine the growth rates of intact and disturbed tropical forests? Gathering new evidence from African forests. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC Reference: NE/I014705/1)

• Bosu P.P., Adu-Bredu S., Nuto Y. & Kouami K. (2006) The Biology, Impact, and Integrated Management of the Opepe Shoot Borer (Orgymophora mediofoveata, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in West Africa. African Forest Research Network (AFORNET)funded project

• Cobbinah J.R., Adu-Bredu S, Peprah T., Ofori J., Oteng-Amoako A., & Ofori D. A. (2002) Analysis of environmental effects on teak production (WP1). Increasing productivity and quality of West African teak plantations using genetic diversity and sustainable management. EU-INCO funded project (ICA4-CT-2001-10090)

• Adu-Bredu (1998) Threatened Milicia species (iroko): Potential for the production of sturdy planting materials. International Tropical Timber Organization Fellowship Programme (Ref. 120/98S)

• 1997-2001:      The Silviculturist: Conservation and Provenance Planting and Integrated Pest Management to sustain Iroko Production in West Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization Funded project (PD. 3/95 REV. 2)

• Hagihara A. & Adu-Bredu S. (1994-1997) Long-term carbon budget of field-grown hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) trees, with special emphasis on maintenance and growth respiration. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 03454073, 0556023), Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan

• Hagihara A. & Adu-Bredu S. (1992-1994) Primary Production studies on the aerial parts of a young hinoki stand. Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 03454073, 0556023), Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan

Selected Publications

• Aabeyir R., Adu-Bredu S., Agyei Agyare W. &  Michael J. C. Weir M.J.C. (2020) Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass in the tropical woodlands of Ghana, West Africa. Forest Ecosystems 7:41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00250-3

• Aguirre-Gutiérrez J., Malhi Y., Lewis S.L., Fauset S., Adu-Bredu S., Affum-Baffoe K., Baker T.R. Gvozdevaite A., Hubau W., Moore S., Peprah T., Ziemińska K., Phillips O.L. & Oliveras (2020). Long-term droughts may drive drier tropical forests towards increased functional, taxonomic and phylogenetic homogeneity. Nature Communications 11:3346 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16973-4

• Ametsitsi G.K.D., Van Langevelde F., Logah V., Janssen T., Medina-Vega J.A., Issifu H., Ollivier L., den Hartogh K., Adjei-Gyapong T., Adu-Bredu S., Lloyd J., & Veenendaal E.M. (2020) Fixed or mixed? Variation in tree functional types and vegetation structure in a forest-savanna ecotone in West Africa. Journal of Tropical Ecology https://doi.org/10.1017/S026646742000 0085

• Coulibaly M., Adu-Bredu S., Diwediga B., Traore S.S., Yao N.A. & Sanogo K. (2020) Historical Changes in CO₂ Emissions and Removals from Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Sudan Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana. Journal of Environment and Ecology 11:2. https://doi.org/10.5296/jee.v11i2.17239

• Ibrahim F., Adu-Bredu S., Addo-Danso S.D., Duah-Gyamfi A., Amponsah Manu E. & Malhi Y.  (2020) Patterns and controls on fine-root dynamics along a rainfall gradient in Ghana. Trees. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-020-01970-3  

• Oliveras I., Bentley L., Fyllas N.M., Gvozdevaite A., Alexander Frederick Shenkin A.F., Prepah T., Morandi P., Peixoto K.S., Boakye M., Adu-Bredu S.,  Marimon B.S., Marimon Junior B.H., Martin R., Asner G., Díaz S.,  Enquist B.J.  & Malhi Y. (2020) The Influence of Taxonomy and Environment on Leaf Trait Variation Along Tropical Abiotic Gradients. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 3:18. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2020.00018

• Adu-Bredu S., Ofori D.A., Ræbild A., Hansen J.K., Koffi A., Vigneron P. & Erik D Kjær E.D. (2019) Trait variations in 28-year-old teak (Tectona grandis) provenance field trials in Ghana, West Africa. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 81: 57-68. https://doi.org/10.2989/ 20702620.2018. 1490993

• Aguirre‐Gutiérrez J., Oliveras I., Rifai S., Fauset S., Adu‐Bredu S., Affum‐Baffoe K., Baker T.R., Feldpausch T.R., Gvozdevaite A., Hubau W., Kraft N.J.B.,  Lewis S.L., Moore S., Niinemets Ü., Peprah T., Phillips O.L., Ziemińska K., Enquist M. & Malhi Y. (2019) Drier tropical forests are susceptible to functional changes in response to a long-term drought. Ecology Letters 22: 855-865. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13243

• Borden K.A., Anglaaere L.C.N., Adu-Bredu S. & Isaac M.E. (2019) Root biomass variation of cocoa and implications for carbon stocks in agroforestry systems. Agroforest Syst 93: 369–381 https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10457-017-0122-5

• Chabi A., Lautenbach S., Tondoh J.E., Orekan V.O.A., Adu‑Bredu S., Kyei‑Baffour N., Mama V.J. & John Fonweban (2019) The relevance of using in situ carbon and nitrogen data and satellite images to assess aboveground carbon and nitrogen stocks for supporting national REDD + programmes in Africa. Carbon Balance Management 14:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-019-0127-7

• Issifu H, Ametsitsi G.K.D., de Vries L.J., Djagbletey G.D., Adu-Bredu S., Vergeer P., van Langevelde F. & Veenendaal E. (2019) Variation in vegetation cover and seedling performance of tree species in a forest-savanna ecotone. Journal of Tropical Ecology 35 (2): 74-82. https://doi.org/10.1017/ S0266467418000469

• Moore C., Morel A.C., Ashley Asare R., Adu Sasu M., Adu-Bredu S. & Malhi Y. (2019) Human Appropriated Net Primary Productivity of Complex Mosaic Landscapes Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2019.00038

• Morel A.C., Adu Sasu M., Adu‐Bredu S., Quaye M., Moore C., Ashley Asare R., Mason J., Hirons M., McDermott C.L., Robinson E.J.Z., Boyd E., Norris K. & Malhi Y. (2019) Carbon dynamics, net primary productivity and human‐appropriated net primary productivity across a forest–cocoa farm landscape in West Africa Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14661

• Morel A.C., Hirons M., Adu Sasu M., Quaye M., Ashley Asare R., Mason J., Adu‐Bredu S., Boyd E., McDermott C.L., Robinson E.J.Z., Straser R., Malhi Y. & Norris K. (2019) The Ecological Limits of Poverty Alleviation in an African Forest-Agriculture Landscape. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 3:57. http://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00057

• Addo-Danso S.D., Prescott C.E., Adu-Bredu S., Duah-Gyamfi A., Moore S, Guy R.D., David I. Forrester D.I., Owusu-Afriyie, Marshall P.L. & Malhi Y. (2018) Fine-root exploitation strategies differ in tropical old growth and logged-over forests in Ghana. Biotropica 50: 606-615. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12556

• Armani M., van Langevelde F., Tomlinson K.W., Adu-Bredu S., Djagbletey G.D. & Veenendaal E.M. (2018) Compositional patterns of overstorey and understorey woody communities in a forest-savanna boundary in Ghana. Plant Ecology & Diversity. 11 (4): 451-463. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/17550874.2018.1539133

• Djagbletey G.D., Adu-Bredu S., Duah-Gyamfi A., Abeney E.A., Asante W.A., Akyeampong E., Addo-Danso S., Ametstsi G.K., Amponsah-Manu E., Dabo J., & Amponsah J.O. (2018) Floristic composition and carbon stocks of tree species of different conservation status following selective logging in a moist semi-deciduous forest in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Forestry 34: 15-34.

• Gosling W.D., Julier A.C.M., Adu‑Bredu S., Djagbletey G.D., Fraser W.T., Jardine P.E., Lomax B.H., Malhi Y., Manu E.A., Mayle F.E. & Moore S (2018) Pollen-vegetation richness and diversity relationships in the tropics. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 27: 411-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-017-0642-y

• Gvozdevaite A., Oliveras I., Domingues T.F., Peprah T., Boakye M., Afriyie L., da Silva K.P., de Farias J., de Oliveira E.A., Farias C.C.A., Prestes N.C.C.S., Neyret M., Moore S., Marimon B.S., Marimon Junior B.H., Adu-Bredu S. & Malhi Y. (2018) Leaf-level photosynthetic capacity dynamics in relation to soil and foliar nutrients along forest–savanna boundaries in Ghana and Brazil. Tree Physiology 38: 1912-1926. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpy117 

• Janssen T.A.J., Ametsitsi G.K.D., Collins M., Adu-Bredu S., Oliveras I., Mitchard E.T.A. & M. Veenendaal E.M. (2018) Extending the baseline of tropical dry forest loss in Ghana (1984–2015) reveals drivers of major deforestation inside a protected area. Biological Conservation 218: 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.004

• Julier A.C.M., Jardine P.E., Adu-Bredu S., Coe A.L., Fraser W.T., Lomax B.H., Malhi Y., Moore S. & Gosling W.D. (2018) Variability in modern pollen rain from moist and wet tropical forest plots in Ghana, West Africa Grana 58: 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1080/00173134.2018.1510027

• Julier A.C.M., Jardine P.E., Adu-Bredu S., Coe A.L., Duah-Gyamfi A., Fraser W.T., Lomax B.H., Malhi Y. Moore S., Owusu-Afriyie K. & Gosling W.D. (2018) The modern pollen–vegetation relationships of a tropical forest–savannah mosaic landscape, Ghana, West Africa. Palynology 42: 324-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01916122.2017.1356392

• Moore S., Adu-Bredu S. Duah-Gyamfi A., Addo-Danso S., Ibrahim F., Mbou A., de Grandcourt A., Valentini R., Nicolini G., Djagbletey G., Owusu-Afriyie K., Oliveras I., Gvozdevaite A., Ruiz-Jaen M., Malhi Y. (2018) Forest biomass, productivity and carbon cycling along a rainfall gradient in West Africa. Global Change Biology 24: 496-510.  https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb. 13907

• Rifai S.W., Girardin C.A.J., Berenguer E., Aguila-Pasquel J.D., Dahlsjo C.A.L., Doughty C.E., Jeffery K.J., Moore S., Oliveras I., Riutta T., Rowland L.M., Murakami A.A., Addo-Danso S.D., Brando P., Burton C., Ondo F.E., Duah-Gyamfi A., Amézquita F.F., Freitag R., Pacha F.H., Huasco W.H., Ibrahim F., Mbou A.T., Mihindou V.M., Peixoto K.S., Rocha W., Rossi L.C., Seixas M., Silva-Espejo J.E., Abernethy K.A.A., Adu-Bredu S., Barlow J., da Costa A.C.L., Marimon B.S., Marimon-Junior B.H., Meir P., Metcalfe D.B., Phillips O.L., White L.J.T. & Malhi Y. (2018) ENSO Drives interannual variation of forest woody growth across the tropics. Philosophycal Transaction R. Soc. B 373: 20170410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb. 2017.0410

• Thomson E.R., Malhi Y., Bartholomeus H., Oliveras I., Gvozdevaite A., Peprah T., Suomalainen J., Quansah J., Seidu J., Adonteng C., Abraham A.J., Herold M., Adu-Bredu S. & Doughty C.D. (2018) Mapping the Leaf Economic Spectrum across West African Tropical Forests Using UAV-Acquired Hyperspectral Imagery. Remote Sensing (2018) 10: (10) 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/ rs10101532

• Aabeyir R., Agyare W.A., Weir M.J.C. & Adu-Bredu S. (2017) Multi-Level Land Cover Change Analysis in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of the Kintampo Municipality, Ghana. Journal of Natural Resources and Development 7: 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5027/jnrd.v7i0.01

• Aabeyir R., Adu-Bredu S., Agyare W.A. & Weir M.J.C. (2016) Empirical evidence of the impact of charcoal production on Woodland in the Forest-Savannah transition zone, Ghana. Energy for Sustainable Development 33: 84-95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2016.03.005

• Cardoso A., Medina J., Malhi Y., Adu-Bredu S., Ametsitsi G., Djagbletey G., van Langevelde F., Veenendaal E.& Oliveras I. (2016) Winners and losers: tropical forest tree seedling survival across a West African forest-savanna transition Ecology and Evolution 6 (10): 3417–3429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2133

• Djagbletey E.D., Adu-Bredu S., Djagbletey G.D. & Tuffour H.O. (2016) Assessment of temperature and rainfall variability of grass productivity under three forest reserves in a Savannah ecosystem in Ghana. International Journal of Advanced Research 4 (6): 1622-1632.

• Adjonou K., Nuto Y., Bosu P.P, Adu-Bredu S., Adzo Dzifa Kokutse A.D. & Kokou K. (2014) Natural Distribution of Nauclea diderrichii (Rubiceae) in Semi Deciduous Forest of Togo (West Africa) and Implementation of Integrated Silviculture. American Journal of Plant Sciences 5: 1220-1235. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2014.59135

• Isaac M.E., Anglaaere L.C.N., Kira Borden K. & Adu-Bredu S. (2014) Intraspecific root plasticity in agroforestry systems across edaphic conditions. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 185: 16–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2013.12.004

• Bosu P.P., Adu-Bredu S., Nuto Y. & Kokou K. (2013) Survival, Growth and Orygmophora mediofoveata Shoot Borer Attack of Nauclea diderrichii Progenies Established in Three Ecological Zones in Ghana. Open Journal of Forestry 3: 152-158

• Malhi Y., Adu-Bredu S., Asare R., Lewis S. & Mayaux P. (2013) The past, present and future of Africa’s rainforests. Phylosophical Transaction R Soc B368: 20120293.  https://doi.org/ 10.1098/rstb.2012.0293

• Malhi Y., Adu-Bredu S., Asare R., Lewis S. & Mayaux P. (2013) African rainforests: past, present and future. Phylosophical Transaction R Soc B368: 20120312. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb. 2012.0312

• Addo-Danso S.D., Bosu P.P. Nkrumah E.E., Pelz D.R., Coke S.A. & Adu-Bredu S. (2012) Survival and growth of Nauclea diderrichii (de wild.) and Pericopsis elata (harms) in monoculture and mixed-species plots in Ghana. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 24: 37–45.

• Agyeman V. K., Swaine M. D., Thompson J., Kyereh B., Duah-Gyamfi A., Foli E. G. & Adu-Bredu S. (2010) A comparison of tree seedling growth in artificial gaps of different sizes in two contrasting forest types. Ghana Journal of Forestry 26: 14-40.

• Henry M., Besnard A., Asante W.A., Eshun J., Adu-Bredu S., Valentini, R., Bernoux, M. & Saint-André, L. (2010) Wood density, phytomass variations within and among trees, and allometric equations in a tropical rainforest of Africa. Forest Ecology and Management 260: 1375–1388.

• Ogawa K., Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T. & Hagihara A. (2010) Leaf biomass changes with stand development in hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa [Sieb. et Zucc.] Endl.) Plant Ecology 211: 79-88.

• Bombelli A., Henry M., Castaldi S., Adu-Bredu S., Arneth A., Grieco E., Lehsten V., Rasile A., Reichstein M., Tansey K., Weber U. & Valentini R. (2009) An outlook on the Sub-Saharan Africa carbon balance. Biogeosciences 6: 2193-2205.

• Derkyi N. S. A., Bailleres H., Chaix G., Oteng-Amoako A.A. & Adu-Bredu, S. (2009) Colour variation in teak (Tectona grandis) wood from plantations across the ecological zones of Ghana. Ghana Journal of Forestry 25: 40-48

• Peprah T., Kyereh B., Owusu K.A. & Adu-Bredu S. (2009) Drought tolerance of Garcinia kola and Garcinia afzelii at the seedling stage. Ghana Journal of Forestry 25:13-27.

• Adu-Bredu S, Tape Bi A.F, Jean-Pierre Bouillet J-P., Me M.A, Kyei S.A., Saint-André L. (2008) An explicit stem profile model for forked and un-forked Teak (Tectona grandis) trees in West Africa. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 2189–2203.

• Djagbletey G.D. & Adu-Bredu S. (2007) Adoption of agroforestry by teak farmers in Ghana: The case study of Nkoranza District. Ghana Journal of Forestry 20 & 21: 1-13.

• Adu-Bredu S. & Hagihara A. (2003) Long-term carbon budget of the above-ground parts of a young hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stand. Ecological Research 18: 165-175.

• Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T. & Hagihara A. (1997) Long-term respiratory cost of maintenance and growth of field-grown young hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). Annals of Botany 80: 753-758.

• Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T. & Hagihara A. (1997) Temperature effect on maintenance and growth respiration coefficients of young field-grown, hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) Ecological Research 12: 357-362.

• Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T., Ogawa, K. & Hagihara A. (1997) Tree size dependence of litter production, and above-ground net production in a young hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stand. Journal of Forest Research 2: 31-37.

• Adu-Bredu S. & Hagihara A. (1996) Sapwood amount and its predictive equations for young hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) trees. Bulletin of the Nagoya University Forest 15: 11-21.

• Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T. & Hagihara A. (1996) Carbon balance of the aerial parts of a young hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stand. Tree Physiology 16: 239-245.

• Adu-Bredu S., Yokota T. & Hagihara A. (1996) Respiratory behaviour of young hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obsusa) trees under field conditions. Annals of Botany 77: 623-628.