Environment and People

For millennia, human modification of tropical landscapes has reciprocally influenced human livelihoods. At the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, researchers dissect what social and environmental variables best describe and influence human-nature interactions in these ecosystems. This work involves exploring how different governance elements can be used to advance sustainability and decision-making processes pertaining to tropical forests. It also entails thinking critically of tropical urban systems and on what actions can be made to make them more livable, more resilient and more equitable in the face of threats such as climate change. Understanding how participatory action, social organization, and community engagement can influence forest conservation outcomes is also a major facet of this research agenda.