Research in Governance and Policy Processes

The general objective for our research is to improve the livelihoods and human well-being in developing countries through improved forest governance.

We seek a better understanding of the policy processes and existing models of forest governance in developing countries and new models for improved forest governance.

Our resarch focuses on the folloowing areas:

• Decentralized and community based natural resource management: Under which conditions can decentralization contribute to improving rural livelihoods and sustainable management of forest resources? 

• Global - local relations: What are the solutions for and what are the local consequences of global environmental problems, including climate changes? A core topic is Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

• Payment for Environmental Services (PES): How can PES (including REDD+) sustain and enhance environmental services, including carbon storage of forests, while maintaining and improving rural people’s livelihoods? 

Collaboration

Research is conducted with a large range of partners including for instance: Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI); CIFOR; Forest Research Institute of Ghana; Institute of Forestry (Pokhara, Nepal); Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA, Tanzania); Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI).