Research of FNP
Our research focuses on understanding interactions between people and nature in a broad sense and with a specific focus on forests. We aim to generate knowledge to enrich the social-environmental sciences and to inspire society to tackle major environmental and socioeconomic challenges. We contribute to sustainability transitions that are responsive to multifaceted societal demands. We embrace theoretical and methodological pluralism, working with concepts originating from political sciences, sociology, anthropology and human geography. We employ collaboration across disciplines to address wicked problems. Our research takes place in locations all over the world, from the local to the global level.
Our work is organised around three research themes that are connected to three critical interconnected 'spheres' of forest and nature conservation:
POLITICAL SPHERE: Forest and nature policy and governance
Forests and nature are valued, used, managed and governed according to a broad range of worldviews, interests and ways of knowing; these are in turn connected to actors, policies and institutions. Opposing ideas and interests result in political struggles that often involve unequal power relations. This research theme addresses the ‘politics of governance’ and explores how major paradigms, discourses, institutions and interests play out in policy making. We also study the impacts policies have, from global to local levels, including the ways in which the local people defy or adopt policy interventions and the difference these can make to forests and nature.
MARKET SPHERE: Value chains and markets for ecosystem services
Forest and nature-based economies are not only crucial for human development and welfare; they also affect global land use patterns interwoven with environmental and social challenges, such as deforestation or displacement of smallholders. This theme analyses the interplay of markets and policies, including informal practices and rules, along forest landscape related value chains. We focus on people — from local producers to end consumers — who are often located in different global contexts. Besides global product value chains such as timber and agrofood, the issues covered here include markets for ecosystem services, such as climate mitigation or biodiversity conservation. A specific focus is on how local land managers – while adapting to multiple demands and drivers – respond to change through their land use practices, and the socio-economic and environmental consequences thereof.
SOCIETY SPHERE: Interconnections between humans and non-human nature
In this theme, we explore the ways humans enact their relationships with forests and nature and the implications for forest and nature governance and management. We apply a diversity of approaches and perspectives, ranging from value theory to multi-species ethnography. We use qualitative as well as quantitative methods, with a strong interest in transdisciplinary approaches. Our topics range from environmental conflicts to stewardship, from community-based forestry to re-naturing cities, and from understanding the plural values and meanings of non-human nature to mobilising connectedness to nature for transformative change.