Restoring Forests, Enhancing Well-being: Connecting Ecological Recovery Efforts and Social Impacts

Abstract:
In this talk, I will draw from my research contributions to emerging thoughts of restoration social science to offer evidence on the human well-being impacts forest restoration actions.

I will also articulate broader human dimensions that are important to account for in ecological recovery efforts, why it is important to consider them, and how to integrate them in restoration processes, so as to foster more people-centered ecosystem restoration.

About the Speaker:
Ida Djenontin, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Penn State University. She is a human-environment and development geographer and a broadly-trained interdisciplinary environmental social scientist.

Ida's research addresses the relationships between people and agro-forest ecosystems, focusing on examining cross-scale governance, institutional, and policy processes, as well as equity and inclusion issues in managing such socio-ecological systems.

Her research contributes to inform decision making in the quest for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and ecological integrity while safeguarding natural resource-based livelihoods and food security in the Global South, especially in Africa.

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