Profile

I am working as a researcher for the Directorate of the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme. I have a PhD from the Australian National University, where my dissertation examined the impacts on household poverty of community based natural resource management, using case studies in Mozambique and Namibia. I also hold an MSc in Development Economics from the University of London (SOAS) and an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Queensland.

For the last decade, my work has centred on sustainable economic development, poverty alleviation and the sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources, primarily in southern Africa.

Current project:

ESPA's goal is to ensure that, in developing countries, ecosystems are being sustainably managed in a way that contributes to poverty reduction as well as inclusive and sustainable growth. The programme is a seven year, £40.5 million interdisciplinary research programme funded by the Department for International Development, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

ESPA aims to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge research that will provide the evidence and tools to enable decision makers to manage ecosystems sustainably and in a way that contributes to poverty reduction.

My role focuses on developing approaches to the integration of impact assessment frameworks into research design processes, and on the analysis and synthesis of ESPA-funded research to ensure the maximum possible impact of the programme and the projects funded through it.

Books, book chapters and journal articles:

• Mahanty, S., Suich, H. and Tacconi, L. ‘Access and benefits in payments for environmental services and implications for REDD plus: lessons from a global review’, submitted to Land Use Policy.
• Suich, H. (2010) ‘The livelihood impacts of the Namibian community based natural resource management programme: a meta-synthesis.’ Environmental Conservation. Vol.37, No.1. pp.45–53.
• Tacconi, L., Mahanty, S. and Suich, H. (eds.) (2010) Payments for environmental services, forest conservation and climate change. Livelihoods in the REDD? Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
• Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) (2009) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.
• Bothma, J. du P., Suich, H. with Spenceley, A. (2009) ‘Game ranching in South Africa.’ In Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.
• Whande, W. and Suich, H. (2009) ‘Transfrontier conservation initiatives in southern Africa – observations from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.’ In Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.
• Suich, H. (2008) ‘Tourism in the transfrontier conservation areas: the Kavango–Zambezi transfrontier conservation area.’ In Spenceley, A (ed.) Tourism, communities and environment in southern Africa. London: Earthscan.
• Odendaal, F.J., Suich, H. and Rojas-Velasquez, C. (2007) Richtersveld. The land and its people. Cape Town: Struik.
• Suich, H. (2002) ‘Development of preliminary Tourism Satellite Accounts for Namibia.’ Development Southern Africa. Vol.19, No.1. pp.105–121.
• Poonyth, D., Barnes, J.I., Suich, H. and Monamati, M. (2002) ‘Satellite and resource accounting as tools for tourism planning in southern Africa.’ Development Southern Africa. Vol.19, No.1. pp.123–141.