MarineFuture 2025 - Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystem Sustainability

Dr. Arlene L. Gonzales Profile

Dr. Arlene L. Gonzales

Dr. Arlene L. Gonzales

Biography

Dr. Arlene L. Gonzales is an accomplished environmental scientist and Associate Professor at the College of Agriculture, Food & Sustainable Development (CAFSD), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Philippines. She currently serves as Chief for International Programs (2022?present) and Chief for Sustainability and Futures Thinking (2024?present) at MMSU.

She also serves as Visiting Faculty in the Natural Resource Management Unit of the Department of Food, Agriculture & Natural Resources at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, where she earned her PhD in Climate Change and Sustainable Development in 2024.

Her academic background also includes an MS in Environmental and Conservation Biology from Saint Louis University, Philippines (2010) and a BS in Environmental Science from MMSU (2004).

Her expertise spans nature-based solutions (NbS), urban ecology, greenhouse gas inventory, environmental and ecological engineering, climate change, and sustainability. She has actively contributed to numerous research projects, capacity-building programs, and international collaborations focused on climate resilience, ecological restoration, and sustainable urban systems.

Research Interest

Nature-based solutions and ecological engineering Urban ecology and sustainability Ecosystem services and biodiversity Climate change adaptation strategies Environmental sustainability and SDG implementation in higher education contexts

Abstract

This work introduces the innovative concept of freshwater mangroves as a sustainable urban ecosystem. Situated within AIT?s campus, these mangroves serve as natural biofilters?purifying water, sequestering carbon, enhancing biodiversity, and providing aesthetic and ecological value to urban settings. Utilizing ecological engineering principles, this model addresses urban wastewater challenges and offers scalable solutions for climate-resilient cities.