REFloC's research is organized around four interconnected themes that reflect the complex relationships between forest ecosystems and human communities. Each theme addresses critical questions about how to achieve both conservation goals and community well-being.
Assessing how climate change affects both forests and communities and identifying strategies for building resilience. This theme explores adaptation practices, vulnerability, and the role of forests in climate mitigation.
Understanding the ecological value of the Weto Range forests and the ecosystem services they provide to local communities. This theme examines forest composition, species diversity, and how communities depend on and interact with forest resources.
Examining the formal and informal institutions that govern forest access and use. This theme analyzes traditional authority systems, government policies, and community-based resource management arrangements.
Investigating how communities make their living and the extent to which they depend on forest resources. This theme explores income sources, food security, and the economic value of forests to local households.
These themes are deeply interconnected. Biodiversity loss affects livelihoods. Governance systems shape how resources are used. Climate change impacts all aspects of the forest-community relationship. By examining these themes together, REFloC develops comprehensive insights that inform effective, equitable conservation strategies.
