Dr Erik L.H. Cammeraat is affiliated to the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Amsterdam. He did his PhD on hydro-geomorphologcal processes in temperate zone forests on duplex soils and sub-surface erosion. He is currently involved in land degradation research in semi-arid and sub-humid environments, with emphasis on desertification in the Sahel and Mediterranean region. He is concentrating on soil structural stability issues and infiltration characteristics of degraded terrain and their effects on hillslope and catchment scale and their feed-backs with biotic processes, incorporating connectivity and upscaling approaches. The application of vegetation and other eco-engineering techniques to mitigate soil and slope degradation have his special interest. Recent research projects include “Conditions for restoration and mitigation of desertified areas using vegetation (RECONDES)” and “Eco-engineering and Conservation of Slopes for Long-term Protection from Erosion, Landslides and Storms (ECOSLOPES)”. He is member of the Soil Conservation Committee of the SSS EGU 2008, and member of the scientific board of the first (Thessaloniki, 2004) and second Ecoslopes eco-engineering conference (Beijing, 2008). He is author or co-author of over 50 peer reviewed papers and book chapters and 40 conference proceedings publications, member of the editorial board of Catena and co-editor of several special issues and books. In 2003 he was granted the Wiley award by the BGRG. Website: http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/l.h.cammeraat