This seminar introduces students to the topic of forest landscape restoration (FLR) and its political, community, and ecological contexts through research-based learning. As such, the seminar emphasizes interactive and hands-on sessions. In the first half of the semester, we’ll present examples of research on FLR that draw from multiple methods for studying human-nature systems and apply those methods during in-class tutorials. In the second half, student groups will use what they have learned to design and undertake “mini” research projects on FLR. Students will translate their findings into a creative science communication tool such as, in infographics, policy briefs or blogs.
Forest landscape restoration, which aims to rehabilitate ecosystems while enhancing human well-being, has gained increasing attention in recent years for its potential to substantially contribute to climate change mitigation, adaptation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and Aichi Targets.