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Ecosystem Research Topics: Human Ecology (NO LONGER ACTIVE)
The ECI's Human Ecology research ran between 2001-2007, and drew to a close with the departure of Senior Research Fellow Dr Anna Lawrence, who moved to the Forestry Commission in January 2008. Past research projects and outputs are still available through the following webpages. Any enquiries about this research should be directed to enquiries@eci.ox.ac.uk
The Human Ecology group's research focuses on the cultural, social, and political aspects of environmental management and the interaction between people and the ecosystem. Find out more about human ecology.
Conference Proceedings: Participating in Nature: Communities and Protected Areas in CEE
An international symposium: 10-13 March 2008 – Bistrita, Romania
Read conference proceedings, summary and details of participants
Projects
The research projects within the Human Ecology field are grouped around the following themes:
- Community Forestry
- Participatory Biodiversity Monitoring
- Local Environmental Governance and Volunteers
- Post-Socialist Forests and Biodiversity
- Non-Timber Forest Products: NTFPs
- Sustainable Harvesting of Medicinal Plants
04 - Jan 06
Working in collaboration with local communities in India and Nepal, the human ecology team is assessing the sustainability of current levels of harvesting of medicinal plants.
Related Documents
Participatory science: providing reliable information for adaptive co-management of NTFPs in India and Nepal [PDF: 386KB]
In January 2006 we held a Project Maturnity Workshop in Bangalore.
Collaborative experiments for sustainable NTFP harvest - A methods handbook
This handbook builds on our research experience and looks at applying the methodology in other settings where communities harvest NTFPs and want to enhance the sustainability of this harvest. Our aim with the handbook is to enable foresters and fieldworkers to support communities in the planning, design and management of experiments, as well as the interpretation and use of the results.
- Community forests and small-scale forestry in Romania
04 - Jul 06
This research will use case studies and in-depth interviews to explore with communities and foresters their experiences and perceptions of forest restitution and its impact on ecology, livelihoods, community and institutions.
Related Documents
In September 2006 we held a Project Final Workshop in Comana, Romania. Downloads from the workshop.
- Development of monitoring process and indicators for forest management, Nepal
2001 - 2002
Donor: DFID's Natural Resources Systems Programme (NRSP), Lead institution: University of Reading, Main collaborators: WATCH (Women Acting Together for Change), Nepal
Adaptive value of particpatory biodiversity monitoring in community forestry, NEPAL. [PDF: 127KB]
- Framework for monitoring invasive species in Ghana
01 - 03
This project used participatory methods to explore the impact of invasive species on local communities and farmers in Ghana.
- Evolving environmental governance in the Netherlands and the UK
2006
Voluteers' perceptions of biodiversity and how such a 'natural history shaping' of biodiversity has informed biodiversity policies.
- Youth participation in protected area management in Rodna Mountains, Romania
May 05 - Jul 08
Application of GIS and participatory biodiversity monitoring methods in the development of an innovative approach to environmental education and protected area management.
Related Documents
Policy Brief: citizen science and community participation in protected area management: a new approach for european transition countries September 2006 [PDF: 256KB]
- More effective field guides
01 - Jun 04
How can we find more effective ways to develop and write user-friendly plant field guides, and create ways in which plant identification can help in conservation and development? Four guides have been produced in South America, allowing comparison of methods under different circumstances.
- BioWatch UK
03 - Apr 05
The public plays a huge part in biodiversity volunteering in the UK. This project examines the impact of such involvement on the organisations, volunteers and the biodiversity itself, and considers the contribution made to environmental governance.
- Development of monitoring process and indicators for forest management, Nepal
2001 - 2002
Donor: DFID's Natural Resources Systems Programme (NRSP), Lead institution: University of Reading, Main collaborators: WATCH (Women Acting Together for Change), Nepal
Related Documents
Adaptive value of particpatory biodiversity monitoring in community forestry, NEPAL. [PDF: 127KB]
- Participatory Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation of Biodiversity
01 - 02
An internet conference convened by ECI and the European Tropical Forest Research Network in January 2002, on 'Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Biodiversity'.
- Conservation in Action
Sept 06 - 08
We have chosen six community conservation groups in Oxfordshire as the basis for an in-depth exploration of the individual experience of participating in such groups with the aim of understanding what motivates people to take up conservation action, and what that in turn achieves - Local Biodiversity Action Plans: the case for Black Poplar
Sept 05-07
The UK has a unique and highly structured approach to biodiversity conservation, through its Biodiversity Action Plans, both national and local. How do these affect conservation? Our study uses one well-loved species as a window on the planning process.
Related Documents
Black poplar and the diversity of biodiversity action plans - Report on a survey of LBAPs [PDF: 127KB]
- BioWatch UK
03 - Apr 05
The public plays a huge part in biodiversity volunteering in the UK. This project examines the impact of such involvement on the organisations, volunteers and the biodiversity itself, and considers the contribution made to environmental governance.
Related Documents
- Innovative decision making for a sustainable management of water in developing countries
Jan 05 - Mar 08
Recommendations for a sustainable decision making process for water supply and sanitation management, using case studies in one river basin in each participating partner country, Indonesia, Maharashtra-India, Malaysia and Nepal.
- Youth participation in protected area management in Rodna Mountains, Romania
May 05 - Jul 08
Application of GIS and participatory biodiversity monitoring methods in the development of an innovative approach to environmental education and protected area management.
Related Documents
Policy Brief: citizen science and community participation in protected area management: a new approach for european transition countries September 2006 [PDF: 256KB]
- Community forests and small-scale forestry in Romania
04 - Jul 06
This research will use case studies and in-depth interviews to explore with communities and foresters their experiences and perceptions of forest restitution and its impact on ecology, livelihoods, community and institutions.
Related Documents
In September 2006 we held a Project Final Workshop in Comana, Romania. Downloads from the workshop.
- Participatory forest management for herbal medicinal production in Peru
Oct 05 - Sep 07
Working in collaboration with Centro EORI and indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon we will develop a management plan to sustainably harvest and cultivate medicinal plants, in order to produce herbal medicines.
- Sustainable Harvesting of Medicinal Plants
04 - Jan 06
Working in collaboration with local communities in India and Nepal, the human ecology team is assessing the sustainability of current levels of harvesting of medicinal plants.
Related Documents
Participatory science: providing reliable information for adaptive co-management of NTFPs in India and Nepal [PDF: 386KB]
In January 2006 we held a Project Maturnity Workshop in Bangalore.
Collaborative experiments for sustainable NTFP harvest - A methods handbook
This handbook builds on our research experience and looks at applying the methodology in other settings where communities harvest NTFPs and want to enhance the sustainability of this harvest. Our aim with the handbook is to enable foresters and fieldworkers to support communities in the planning, design and management of experiments, as well as the interpretation and use of the results.
- The International Forestry Review
Jun 03
In June 2003 Anna Lawrence guest edited the International Forestry Review. The papers are available for download.
A number of related research projects were carried out by Anna Lawrence while based at the Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Department, University of Reading. Read more about these projects.