• Geomorphological processes: modelling of processes moving sediment, wate r and nutrients through the landscape, experimental study of such proces ses
• Soil degradation, soil erosion and sediment delivery: research on proces ses having a detrimental effect on soil quality with a special focus onsoil erosion and the fate of eroded sediments and nutrients. Processes i nclude soil erosion by water and tillage erosion
• Spatial modeling of environmental processes: the relationship between so il erosion and the carbon cycle
• Modelling land use change and its effect on geomorphic processes: how will land use change in the future and what will be the effect of these ch anges on surface fluxes of sediments and other soil constituents ?
• Physical geography in general

Recent projects

• On the rice: a holistic approach to identify countries with an imminent imbalance between rice supply and demand in Africa (01/11/2019 - 01/11/2023) - Promotor
• Reconstructing environmental change in the Lake Alaotra region, Madagascar (08/01/2018 - 25/04/2023) - Co-promotor
• The role of lavaka in the landscapes of Madagascar: a process-based approach. (02/10/2017 - 31/12/2022) - Promotor
• The fate of erosion displaced soil organic carbon in aquatic systems (25/09/2017 - 29/09/2022) - Promotor

Full projects list
in the research portal

Recent publications

• launch Razanamahandry, V.F., Borges, A.V., Brosens, L., Morana, C., Razafimbelo, T., Rafolisy, T., Govers, G., Bouillon, S. with Bouillon, S. (corresp. author) (2025). Biogeochemical functioning of Lake Alaotra (Madagascar): a reset of aquatic carbon sources along the land-ocean aquatic continuum. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 22 (10), 2403-2424. doi: 10.5194/bg-22-2403-2025
• launch van de Broek, M., Govers, G., Schrumpf, M., Six, J. with van de Broek, M. (corresp. author) (2025). A microbially driven and depth-explicit soil organic carbon model constrained by carbon isotopes to reduce parameter equifinality. BIOGEOSCIENCES, 22 (5), 1427-1446. doi: 10.5194/bg-22-1427-2025 via repository
• launch Keulemans, W., Avermaete, T., De Coninck, B., De Tavernier, J., Elsen, A., Govers, G., Honnay, O., Janssens, C., Rolland, F., Saeys, W., Van Overwalle, G., Achten, V. (contr.) (2024). Duurzame landbouwproductie en de maatschappelijke uitdagingen. Report No. 22, Werkgroep Metaforum KU Leuven. via repository
• launch Muller, C.R., Six, J., Brosens, L., Baumann, P., Minella, J.P G., Govers, G., Van de Broek, M. with Muller, C.R. (corresp. author) (2024). The limited effect of deforestation on stabilized subsoil organic carbon in a subtropical catchment. SOIL, 10 (1), 349-365. doi: 10.5194/soil-10-349-2024 via repository
• launch Depicker, A., Govers, G., Jacobs, L., Vanmaercke, M., Uwihirwe, J., Campforts, B., Kubwimana, D., Mateso, J-C.M., Bibentyo, T.M., Nahimana, L., Smets, B., Dewitte, O. with Depicker, A. (corresp. author), Dewitte, O. (corresp. author) (2024). Mobilization rates of landslides in a changing tropical environment: 60-year record over a large region of the East African Rift. GEOMORPHOLOGY, 454, Art.No. ARTN 109156. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109156
• launch De Vos, K., Janssens, C., Jacobs, L., Campforts, B., Boere, E., Kozicka, M., Leclère, D., Havlík, P., Hemerijckx, L-M., Van Rompaey, A., Maertens, M., Govers, G. (2024). African food system and biodiversity mainly affected by urbanization via dietary shifts. Nature Sustainability, 7 (7), 869-878. doi: 10.1038/s41893-024-01362-2 via repository
• launch De Vos, K., Govers, G. (sup.), Jacobs, L. (cosup.), Campforts, B. (cosup.), Maertens, M. (cosup.) (2023). On the Rice: a holistic approach to identify imminent issues in the African Rice System. via repository
• launch Brosens, L., Cox, R., Campforts, B., Jacobs, L., Vanacker, V., Bierman, P., Razanamahandry, V.F., Rakotondrazafy, A.F M., Razafimbelo, T., Rafolisy, T., Govers, G. with Brosens, L. (corresp. author) (2023). The slow downwearing of Madagascar: Inferring patterns and controls on long-term basin-averaged erosion rates from in situ 10Be at the catchment and regional level. EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, 48 (9), 1765-1782. doi: 10.1002/esp.5586
• launch De Vos, K., Janssens, C., Jacobs, L., Campforts, B., Boere, E., Kozicka, M., Havlik, P., Folberth, C., Balkovic, J., Maertens, M., Govers, G. with De Vos, K. (corresp. author) (2023). Rice availability and stability in Africa under future socio-economic development and climatic change. NATURE FOOD. doi: 10.1038/s43016-023-00770-5 via repository
• launch De Vos, K., Janssens, C., Jacobs, L., Campforts, B., Boere, E., Kozicka, M., Havlík, P., Hemerijckx, L., Van Rompaey, A., Maertens, M., Govers, G. (2023). What about human behavior? The case of urbanization and rice in Africa. (Abstract No. EGU23-1411). Presented at the EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23 Apr 2023-28 Apr 2023. doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-1411