Sustainable Reforestation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (REFOREST)
Lead Research Organisation:
The University of Manchester
Department Name: Environment, Education and Development
Abstract
Reversing forest loss is essential for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Although scholars have devoted much attention to deforestation, our knowledge of processes driving the reverse phenomenon - reforestation, and their socioeconomic implications are poorly understood. This lack of understanding significantly risks undermining forest restoration efforts that are both environmentally effective and socially just. This proposal will go beyond the state-of-the-art by leading the most rigorous, multi-site comparative study of reforestation processes driving transitions from deforestation to reforestation and their socioeconomic outcomes in forest landscapes. The project will combine and analyse high-resolution public social and environmental datasets at an unprecedented scale in four countries with globally important forest cover (Mexico, Brazil, India, Nepal). Results will deliver a needed step-change in understanding of processes driving simultaneous improvements in forest cover and human development, allowing me to develop a new, empirically-grounded framework of "Sustainable Forest Transitions". This new framework will generate a paradigm shift in how we think about FT by also considering their social outcomes. The framework will classify drivers of simultaneous improvements in forest cover and human development into distinct pathways that can be linked to broader political and economic processes shaping forest landscapes. These links will expand and pave the way for future forest-sector research by providing new entry points for other disciplines to study social and environmental outcomes of reforestation processes, including political economy, political ecology, and economics. The project's methodological and data-driven innovations will also allow my team and I to develop stakeholder tools to support the design and evaluation of forest-restoration interventions.
Organisations
- The University of Manchester (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Lausanne (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES (Collaboration)
- Bioversity International (Collaboration)
- Penn State University (Collaboration)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- World Wide Fund for Nature (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Johan Oldekop (Principal Investigator) |
Publications

Alencar L
(2025)
Long-term landscape structure change in contrasting land occupation strategies of the Brazilian Amazon
in Land Use Policy

Den Braber B
(2024)
Socio-economic and environmental trade-offs in Amazonian protected areas and Indigenous territories revealed by assessing competing land uses.
in Nature ecology & evolution

Govindarajulu D
(2023)
Rights based approaches to forest landscape restoration; learning from the Indian forest policy experience
in Forest Policy and Economics

Hajjar R
(2025)
Navigating data challenges in socioeconomic impact assessments of conservation regimes.
in Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology

Hall C
(2025)
Trees on farms improve dietary quality in rural Malawi
in Conservation Letters

Mansourian S
(2025)
Situating the 'human' in forest landscape restoration
in Frontiers in Environmental Science

Mansourian S
(2025)
Ecosystem restoration centered in people
in Restoration Ecology

Stephanie M
(2024)
Human Dimensions of Forest Landscape Restoration

Vansant E
(2024)
Food-sourcing from on-farm trees mediates positive relationships between tree cover and dietary quality in Malawi
in Nature Food
Description | Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship |
Amount | £446,944 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ECF-2024-462 |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2024 |
End | 09/2027 |
Description | Research Grant |
Amount | $1,728,450 (USD) |
Funding ID | 151716 |
Organisation | Ford Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2025 |
End | 03/2028 |
Description | Visiting Fellowship |
Amount | £33,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | VF2\100601 |
Organisation | The British Academy |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2023 |
End | 02/2024 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | Bioversity International |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | Penn State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | University of Energy and Natural Resources |
Country | Ghana |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | University of Geneva |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | University of Lausanne |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration |
Organisation | World Wide Fund for Nature |
Department | World Wildlife Fund, US |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Johan Oldekop (PI) contributed to the writing of a report on the "Human Dimensions of Forest Restoration", published by the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Lausanne. |
Collaborator Contribution | The work was done collaboratively, and led by Stephanie Mansourian, an independent consultant who is also affiliated to the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. |
Impact | Report: Human Dimensions of forest landscape restoration. 2024. IUFRO, SER, WWF and University of Lausanne Peer reviewed paper: "Situating the "human" in forest landscape restoration. 2025. Frontiers in Environmental Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Amazon deforestation cut by 83% in places protected by Indigenous communities - new research |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Accompanying article in "The Conversation" to our paper published in Nature Ecology and Evolution. This article was also translated into Portuguese and published in "The Conversation Brazil". The link for the Portuguese version is: https://theconversation.com/desmatamento-na-amazonia-e-ate-83-menor-em-locais-protegidos-por-comunidades-indigenas-235003. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/amazon-deforestation-cut-by-83-in-places-protected-by-indigenous-communi... |
Description | Expert media comment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Dr Johan Oldekop was asked to provide expert comment for a Guardian article focusing on unconditional cash transfers to Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/22/indigenous-people-basic-income-protectin... |
Description | Panel Discussion: Sustainable Forest Transitions Project Launch |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Following the launch of the Sustainable Forest Transitions project at Manchester Museum on the 6th March 2024, we bring you a new episode featuring the event's opening remarks and the incredible panel discussion that took place. In this episode, you will hear from Kieran Dodds, Polyanna da Conceição Bispo, Felipe Melo, Adithya Pradeep and Rose Pritchard, with host and project lead Johan Oldekop guiding the discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017560/episodes/14855596-panel-discussion-sustainable-forest-transitions... |
Description | Pint of Science: Forests for a thriving human-nature relationship |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Dr Lucas Alencar (post-doc) presented research about our project, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/how-can-we-live-in-harmony-with-nature |
Description | Public project launch at the Manchester Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The public project launch included an artist talk by award winning photographer Kieran Dodds and a panel debate with with representatives from academia (Rose Pritchard - the University of Manchester, Polyanna Bispo - the University of Manchester , Felipe Melo - Nottingham Trent University), creative industries (Kieran Dodds) and the private sector (Adithya Pradeep - Jeev, a carbon and biodiversity offset start-up business). The artist talk and panel debate generated discussions about our connection to nature and the role of the arts, forest monitoring and data, and the role of the private sector in forest restoration. The event was attended by approximately 100 people, which included members of the general public and students. The introductory address and panel debate have been compiled into a podcast available on the project's website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017560/14855596-panel-discussion-sustainable-forest-transitions-project-... |
Description | Sustainable Forest Transitions: In conversation with Dr Pooja Choksi |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In this episode, PhD researcher Mariana C. Hernandez-Montilla continues a new series of podcasts linked to the GDI's Sustainable Forest Transitions project. Mariana chats to Dr Pooja Choksi, Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Minnesota and co-founder of Project Dhvani, about her work monitoring the impacts of ecological restoration, including the use of passive acoustic monitoring to track vocalizing species in Indian landscapes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017560/episodes/15078780-sustainable-forest-transitions-in-conversation-... |
Description | Sustainable Forest Transitions: In conversation with Dr Sreeja Jaiswal |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In this episode, PhD researcher Sandy Nofyanza kicks off a new series of podcasts linked to the GDI's Sustainable Forest Transitions project. Sandy chats to Dr Sreeja Jaiswal, Humboldt Foundation's International Climate Protection Postdoc Fellow at the University of Heidelberg, about challenges associated with forest restoration efforts and debates surrounding mitigation measures such as carbon offsets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017560/episodes/14486111-sustainable-forest-transitions-in-conversation-... |
Description | Sustainable Forest Transitions: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Conservation with Amy Penfield and Filipe França |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | In this episode research associate Lucas Alencar speaks with anthropologist Amy Penfield and ecologist Filipe França from the University of Bristol about the roles anthropology, ecology and other disciplines can play in conservation both in isolation and in collaboration with one another to build policy, networks and action. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
URL | https://www.buzzsprout.com/2017560/episodes/16689470 |