Bianca Ambrose-Oji, BSc, MSc (Oxon), PhD

Social Scientist, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

Dr Bianca Ambrose-Oji joined Forest Research in October 2008. She has 18 years of experience in social forestry and forest governance, which includes time as an action researcher, consultant, practitioner and professional trainer.

Key research interests have included community forestry, instituting decentralised forest governance, stakeholder engagement and partnership brokering, participatory and community-based monitoring and evaluation and understanding the management of natural resources in urbanising and peri-urban contexts.

Bianca also has considerable experience in the provision of training for foresters, and providing support to forest institutions undergoing organisational change.

Current role

Social Scientist, Social and Economic Research Group, Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences

Bianca co-ordinates the "Society and Diversity" research theme and contributes to a variety of the social research programmes under the “Well Being" and "Governance”  themes. Her research relates to:

• The best ways of linking communities to forest and woodland use and management, as well as exploring ways to link communities with forestry agencies and foresters
• The development of research methods that can link the needs and concerns of the public to policy makers
• The development of adaptive forms of forest governance that respond to changing social, economic and ecological conditions.

Current programmes

• Society and diversity in relation to trees, woods and forests
• Forest governance: planning, partnerships and participation
• Trees and woods for well-being and quality of life 

Affiliations and achievements

• Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society
• Associate of CARIAD, Bangor University 

Research areas

• Governance and adaptation
• Public engagement
• Social and cultural values
• Social inclusion and equality

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Publications

Papers

Morris. J., O'Brien, L., Ambrose-Oji, B., Lawrence. A. and Carter C. (2011). Access to all? Barriers to accessing woodlands and forests in the UK. Local Environment.

Ambrose Oji, B. (2003). Reviewing the contribution of NTFPs to livelihoods of the forest poor: evidence from the tropical forest in South West Cameroon. International Forestry Review, 5(2):106-117.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2000). Can non-timber forest products come from a plantation?. Non-Wood News, 7: 20-21.

Lawrence, A. and Ambrose-Oji, B., with Lysinge, R. and Tako, C. (2000). Exploring local values for forest biodiversity on Mount Cameroon. Mountain Research and Development, 20(2):112-115.

Books and book chapters

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2010). Environmental Sociology and International Forestry: Historical Overview and Future Directions in Woodgate, G and Redclift, M (eds) The International Handbook of Sociology III. Edward Elgar, London. ISBN 978-1-84844-088-3.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2009). Defining the Spaces and Places for African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture pp 1-34 in Shackleton, C.M, Pasquini, M.W and Drescher, A.W, (eds) African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture. Earthscan, London. ISBN 978-1-8440-7715-1.

Ambrose-Oji, B., and Mughogho, N. (2007). The uses of Adansonia grandidieri, A. rubrostipa and A. za as vegetable oils. In van der Vossen, H and Makimilo, G eds. Vegetable Oils PROTA Volume 14, PROTA Wageningen, Netherlands.

Ambrose-Oji, B., with Allmark, T., Buckley, P., Clements, B. and Woodgate, G. (2005). The Environmental State in the Forest: Of Lookouts, Lumberjacks, Leopards and Losers?  Livelihoods and participatory forest biodiversity conservation in SW Cameroon. In Redclift, M. and Woodgate, G., eds, New Developments in Environmental Sociology, London. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.

Stockdale, M., and Ambrose, B. (1996). Mapping and NTFP Inventory: Participatory Assessment Methods for Forest-dwelling Communities in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. In; Carter, J. (ed.) Recent Approaches to Participatory Forest Resource Assessment, ODI, London.

Reports and proceedings

Rolls, W., Doick K., Dandy, N., and Ambrose-Oji, B., (2011). Growing Woodfuel on Former Landfill Sites. Contract report to Warwickshire County Council.

Ambrose-Oji, B., Tabbush, P., Carter, C., Frost, B and Fielding, K. (2011).  Public Engagement in Forestry: A toolbox for public participation in forest and woodland planning. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. ISBN: 978-0-85538-829-4.

Ambrose-Oji, B. and Fancett, K., eds.  (2011). Woods and Forests in British Society: Progress in research and practice ^(PDF-2066K).  Conference proceedings, Forest Research Monograph, 3, Forest Research, Surrey, 97pp. ISBN 978-0-85538-828-7.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2011). Volunteering and Forestry Commission Wales: Scope, opportunities and barriers ^(PDF-1162K). Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. 45pp.

Ambrose-Oji. B., Lawrence, A., Wallace, J. and Stewart, A. (2011).  Constructing partnerships with state forestry, the British experience. in Ambrose-Oji, B., and Fancett, K., (eds) 2011, Woods and Forests in British Society: Progress in research and practice ^(PDF-1646).  Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. Pp 67-73.

Lawrence, A., Wilmot, Z., Tidey, P., Pollard, A., Hollingdale, J., Harris, K., Calvert, A., Ambrose-Oji, B. (2011). The evolution of community woodlands in Scotland, Wales and England in Ambrose-Oji, B., and Fancett, K., (eds) 2011, Woods and Forests in British Society: Progress in research and practice.  Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. Pp 74-80.

Tabbush, P and Ambrose-Oji, B. (2011). Principles of Public Engagement. Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. 14pp.

Tabbush, P and Ambrose-Oji, B. (2011). Public Engagement and Forestry: Key Lessons for Working in Urban Areas. Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. 22pp.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2010). Social diversity in the forestry profession ^(PDF-1616K).  Forest Research, Farnham, Surrey. 45pp.

Ambrose-Oji, B., Wallace, J., Lawrence, A., and Stewart, A. (2010). Forestry Commission working with civil society ^(PDF-1410K). Research Report, Forest Research. Alice Holt Lodge Farnham, Surrey.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2009). Preferences of Minority and Ethnic Communities in Scottish Forests. Research Note (4pp). Forestry Commission Scotland, Edinburgh.

Ambrose-Oji, B., Garrod, B., Bullen. K and Wong, J. (2008). Volunteering in the UK Countryside: A Review of typologies and modes of engagement.  Report to CIRRE.

Ambrose-Oji, B., Wong, J., Garrod, B. and Bullen, K. (2008). Volunteers and voluntary action: connecting urban populations with the Welsh countryside and post-industrial landscapes. Presented at the Natur conference “Urban and Post-industrial Wales: connecting People and Nature”, 4th – 5th March, 2008, Future Inn, Cardiff.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2008). Communicating research: How do researchers link to the policy making process? Presented at the IndigenoVeg policy dialogue workshop “The promotion of indigenous vegetables in African urban and periurban spaces: Production, consumption, poverty alleviation and policy”, 23-26 January 2008, Grahamstown, South Africa.

Ambrose-Oji, B. and Taylor, R. (2007). Forestry – a new future for rural Europe. Summarised proceedings of the 3rd Robinwood International Conference  14th – 16th February, Venu Cymru, Llandudno.

Wong, J. and Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Achieving Effective Rhododendron Control. Summary and Recommendations from an Expert Workshop. National Trust and WildResources Limited.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2005). Instituting Participatory and Community Focused Research: A new Vision for the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Service.  Report to URS and HPFSRP.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2005). Support for the establishment of Coetir Mynydd community woodland group, and Parc Yr Ocar Process report to Coetir Mynydd.

Ambrose-Oji, B., Lawrence, A., Wong, J., Lysinge, R., Fraser, P.J., Hall, J., O’connor, H. and Healey, J. (2002). Obtaining Local Values For Biodiversity.  e-Conference on Participatory Monitoring And Evaluation Of Biodiversity: The Art And The Science. ETFRN 7-25 January 2002.

Wong, J., Ambrose-Oji, B., Hall, J.B., Healey, J., Kenfack, D., Lawrence, A., Lysinge, R. and Ndam, N. (2002). Generating an index of local biodiversity value.  e-Conference on Participatory Monitoring And Evaluation Of Biodiversity: The Art And The Science. ETFRN 7-25 January 2002.

Wong J., Ambrose-Oji, B., Lawrence, A., Lysinge, R., and Healey, J. (2002). Ranks, counts and scores as a means of quantifying local biodiversity values.  e-Conference on Participatory Monitoring And Evaluation Of Biodiversity: The Art And The Science. ETFRN 7-25 January 2002.

Wong, J, Ambrose-Oji, B, Lawrence, A, Lysinge, R, Fraser, P.J., Healey, J, and Hall, J. (2001). Participatory biodiversity evaluation in complex agroforests, Proceedings CGIAR Workshop on Farmer knowledge and management of complex agroforests: can profitability and conservation be combined?”, Jakarta, Indonesia, August 2001.

Allmark, T., Ambrose-Oji, B., Clements, B., Gauthier, R. and Woodgate, G. (2000).  Chile in the greenhouse.  Contradictory environmental states. Proceedings, International Sociological Association:RC24 Conference The Environmental State Under Pressure, Chicago 6-7th August 1999.

Clements, B., Allmark, T., Ambrose-Oji, B., Rogers, A. and Woodgate, G. (2000). Eco-activism and the environmental state: direct action protest and local (non) participatory democracy. Proceedings, International Sociological Association:RC24 Conference The Environmental State Under Pressure, Chicago 6-7th August 1999.

Woodgate, G., Ambrose-Oji, B., Fernandez Durán, R., Guzmán, G. and Sevilla Guzmán, E. (1999).  Alternative Food and Agriculture Networks: an agroecological perspective on responses to economic globalisation and the ‘New’ Agrarian Question. Proceedings EU COST A12 Workshop on Rural Innovations, University of Cordoba, Spain, June 10th-12th, 1999.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (1997).  Valuing Forest Products from Mount Cameroon, in African Rainforests and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Proceedings of the Limbe Conference, Cameroon 17th -23rd January 1997, Earthwatch, Oxford, UK.

Brocklesby M.A., and Ambrose-Oji, B. (1997).  Neither the Forest nor the Farm ...... Livelihoods in the Forest Zone - the Role of Shifting Agriculture on Mount Cameroon. Rural Development Forestry Network Paper, ODI, London

Brocklesby, M.A., Ambrose Oji, B., and Tekwe, C.F. (1997).  Developing Participatory Forest Management - The User Group Analysis on Mount Cameroon, in African Rainforests and the Conservation of Biodiversity. Proceedings of the Limbe Conference, Cameroon 17th -23rd January 1997, Earthwatch, Oxford, UK.

Training materials

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Social, Economic and Cultural Values attached to Forests and Woodland. Social Issues in Forest Management, Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Gender, Trees and Forestry. Social Issues in Forest Management Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Inclusive Approaches to Forest Management. Social Issues in Forest Management Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Communities and Community Based Forest Management. Social Issues in Forest Management Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Landscape Approaches to Forest Evaluation. Social Issues in Forest Management Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2006). Participatory Resource Assessment, Social Issues in Forest Management, Distance Learning Forestry course DDL4201, SENR, Bangor University. 

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2005). Researching Communities and Forestry in Himachal Pradesh: A Manual of Tools and Techniques.  Himachal Pradesh Forest Department.  URS and HPFSRP.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2003). Social Research and Values Attached to Forests in Church and Monastery sites, Ethiopia.  A Manual of Tools and Techniques.  SAFS, University of Bangor, Darwin Project.

Ambrose-Oji, B. (2002). Best Practice Guidance: Including communities and other stakeholders in the planning of regeneration projects on quarry sites.  SAFS, Bangor University LIFE project.