Press Release
Arun Agrawal, SNRE associate dean, gives Fuller Lecture at World Wildlife Fund
Will Discuss Carbon Sequestration And Contributions Of Forests To Livelihoods At Kathryn Fuller Science For Nature Seminar
Arun Agrawal, SNRE associate dean for research and associate professor, speaks on "Community, Carbon and Livelihoods of Forest Commons - Win-Win vs. Tradeoffs Relationships" at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Thursday, Sept. 24 at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) The lecture is part of the Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Seminar series, which brings distinguished scientists from a variety of fields to Washington, D.C., to present cutting-edge research of central importance to international conservation.
Forest commons—forests used in common by a large number of diverse users—comprise nearly 18 percent of global forest area and make crucial contributions to livelihoods, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, in addition to many other local and global ecosystem services. The contribution of forest commons to local livelihoods far exceeds their territorial extent-more than a billion people are estimated to depend at least partially on different kinds of benefits drawn from forest commons.
Using original data for more than 100 forest commons from ten different countries, Dr. Agrawal will examine the relationship between carbon sequestration and the contributions of forests to livelihoods. His analysis suggests that larger patch size of community forests, and greater autonomy to communities in managing are positively associated with win-win carbon and livelihood outcomes on community forests. The findings of the study provide some guidance for organizations interested in improving carbon sequestration and livelihood outcomes at the same time in relation to community forests.
Dr. Agrawal's research and teaching emphasizes the politics of international development, institutional change and environmental conservation. He has written extensively on indigenous knowledge, community-based conservation, common property, population and resources and environmental identities. His recent interests include the decentralization of environmental policy and the emergence of the environment as a subject of human concern. He has focused on South Asia, although recent projects include other developing countries in Africa and Latin America.
He has been awarded the Arthur Greer Memorial Research Prize. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Duke University, an M.A. in political science from Duke University, a M.B.A. in Development Administration and Public Policy from Indian Institute of Management, and a B.A. in History from Delhi University.
When: 4:30- 5:30 p.m. (lecture); 5:30 - 6:30 (reception), Thursday, September 24, 2009
Where: World Wildlife Fund, Russell Train Conference Center, 1250 24th St. NW (between M and N streets). Admission is free: Click here for a Map Registration at: http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/fellowships/fuller/item1816.html
Who: Dr. Arun Agrawal, Associate Professor of Natural Resourcesand Environment at the University of Michigan.
This lecture is funded through the Kathryn Fuller Science for Nature Fund, which honors Kathryn S. Fuller, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund from 1989 to 2005.
