As a result of climate change, the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones, intense rainfall and droughts have greatly increased, affecting the lives and livelihoods of people around the world.

To limit global warming caused by human activity, it is necessary to limit cumulative emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Forest restoration should therefore be able to help limit global warming. According to the IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report, in low- and middle-income countries, such restoration is biophysically possible for 2 billion hectares of forest area. In South Asia, the SANDEE network, hosted by ICIMOD, is carrying out an IDRC-funded research project on the economics of reforestation in 4 countries in the region: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The specificity of this project is to use primary and secondary data to understand the mechanisms enabling reforestation, both on public and private land, but also to focus on the costs and benefits of these projects for the most marginalised individuals and groups. The study will also provide data to inform policies relating to the restoration of local forests.

François Libois from the PjSE unit is scientific advisor on this project, along with Prof. Jeffrey R. Vincent (Duke University). He has already worked on the link between forest cover and the standard of living of local populations as part of the article “Economic growth and deforestation: the case of the Himalayas” published in March 2018.

In addition to his involvement in the above-mentioned project, François Libois is one of the scientific advisors to the SANDEE network. This network offers research grants and support to researchers in South Asia who wish to work on environmental economics issues in their country. The subjects covered include forests, agro-ecology, water and air pollution, etc.