Blog Posts

Gender equity: A snail pace progress and how to change that

Read the blog, published in Impakter on September 18th 2018, about what policy makers need to know about gender and sustainability. The blog is based on the work of Focalimember Andrea Nightingale on ecofeminism and feminist political ecology, and written by Linda Hansson and Ekaterina Bessonova in a Focali-SIANI collaboration.

Bridge over troubled waters: How can we bury the hatchet between industry and civil society?

The production of everything from shirts to foods has an impact on people and the planet. In fact, palm oil, soy, beef and wood products alone are responsible for 70% of global deforestation. Clearly, sustainable business practices are urgently needed to solve the problems evoked by unsustainable production.

Supply chain transparency: A green light to sustainable consumption?

Do you know where the palm oil in your breakfast peanut butter sandwich comes from? Can you tell if it comes from a former pristine rainforest? What if I tell you that it soon may be possible to find out with a mouse click? But first, let’s talk about why we need to know it at all.

Forest and food, a matter of social justice?

When it comes to food security, forests can be a life-saver. Forests provide fruits, leaves, nuts and mushrooms. These foods are crucial for nutrition in rural communities, and can cushion against hunger when harvests are low. However, forests are rarely included in food security strategies.

What happened in Stockholm during the "Land rights autumn"?

In October 2017, Stockholm hosted a series of international events dedicated to the issue of land and resource rights. On October 3, Swedish Development Agency, Sida, organised a “Development Talk” on the theme: Land rights – a prerequisite for combating climate change and advancing peace and gender equality, followed by an in-depth session in the afternoon on Securing Community Land and Resource Rights in Practice.

Is it ok to use wastewater in forestry?

Using wastewater in forestry combines water re-use and nutrient recycling. This approach can theoretically address water scarcity, help to maintain tree cover and provide multiple ecosystem services. In addition, forests can filter wastewater, reducing treatment costs. However, using wastewater to irrigate forests also has challenges. First, is it even safe?

Deforestation in the void behind the demobilization of the FARC - Research blog from the Amazon, Colombia

Focali researcher Torsten Krause shares his experience from newly initiated research project on hunting and forest governance in the Colombian Amazon, in collaboration with community members of the indigenous reserve Nunuya de Villazul.

A glance at the HLPE report on Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition

This year’s HLPE report, on Sustainable Forestry for Food Security and Nutrition, links forests and agriculture. Still there is a strong and persevering tradition in dividing these into separate silos e.g. in research and policy formulation. Terence Sunderland, HLPE Project Team Leader: “A broad multi-stakeholder approach is the way forward. Break down silos! People working in complex landscape systems (like sustainable forests and sustainable agriculture) need to meet and work together.”

The value of trees in Myanmar: Q&A with Laura Kmoch

Today is the International Day of Forests, this year with the theme: Forests & Energy. We are celebrating by talking to Focali member Laura Kmoch, PhD candidate at the Division of Physical Resource Theory, Department of Energy and Environment, Chalmers. Laura has just returned after 8 weeks in the field in upland Myanmar, where she has been studying the contribution of trees to rural livelihoods.

Bottom-up but also top-down – why local institutions matter for REDD+

"To build a sustainable, climate-resilient future for all, we must invest in our world's forests. That will take political commitment at the highest levels, smart policies, effective law enforcement, innovative partnerships and funding." / Ban Ki-Moon

How Women's Participation in Customary Forest and Land Governance in the DRC is being restricted

This blog post written by Larissa Stiem and Focali member Torsten Krause is based on results presented in their article “Exploring the impact of social norms and perception on women´s participation in customary forest and land governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo – Implications for REDD+”.

Interview with Focali researcher Matilda Palm at Columbia University

Focali researcher Matilda Palm is currently working at Ruth DeFries lab at Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology Department (E3B) at Columbia University. Read this interview with her to find out how it was to move from Sweden to work and live in New York.

Visions for the world’s forests – the role of water in forests in Sweden and in the world.

Focali researcher Eskil Mattsson participated in a seminar on “Forests’ role for water in Sweden and the world”.

Side-event with Focali Researchers at the United Nations Climate Conference

Focali researcher Fariborz Zelli shares his experinces from the side-event "REDD and Beyond: International and Indigenous Strategies in Forest protection" in Lima, Peru, The side-event was held in connection to the COP20 negotiations.

A recap from workshop on Forest Conservation, Agroforestry and Livelihoods

Focali researcher Torsten Krause recaps the main points of discussion from the FOCALI-the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS) workshop on June 10 2014.

Reflections on participatory monitoring

Focali researcher Torsten Krause shares his thoughts after participating in an International Seminar on Participatory Monitoring for the Management of Biodiversity and Natural Resources in Manaus, Brazil.

Impact evaluation of forest conservation interventions – can theory and practice meet?

Based on this topic Focali held a network meeting the 24th of April 2014 regarding impact evaluation for forest conservation interventions and specifically we ask: can theory and practice meet?

Five Focali – SIANI Blog Posts from the World Congress of Agroforestry

Focali and SIANI participated in the World Congress of Agroforestry between 10th -14th of February in New Delhi, India. This was the first activity in the new Focali – SIANI collaboration around the theme “Forests, Landscapes and Food Security”. Several Blog Posts written by the Focali – SIANI team, of researchers and communication staff, were published on different forums ahead of, during and after the congress. Click on the titles to read the full blogs.

How much forest did you have for breakfast today?

Blog Post, on the International Day of Forests, by Focali researcher Sabine Henders.

REDD+ the poster boy for progress in Warsaw (COP19)

Lund University blog post from COP19 by the Focali researcher Tobias Dan Nielsen.

Focali

Sections