Summary
This research focuses on two related agendas:
- Development and implementation of methodologies to evaluate the social and cultural impacts of forest related interventions
- Contributions to the development of Decision Support Systems (DSS) for the forestry sector.
Our research to evaluate social and cultural impacts covers all stages in the policy, programme or project cycle. Key research areas include the development and implementation of methodologies for quantitative evaluation, including social indicators at different spatial scales, and qualitative evaluation, in particular for less tangible social and cultural impacts, and stakeholder engagement throughout the evaluation process.
Our contribution to the development of Decision Support Systems involves close collaboration between social scientists and modellers to engender a culture of interdisciplinarity to involve stakeholders in all stages of DSS development and ensure that social and cultural values are incorporated into the DSS as far as possible.
Description and summary of research included in this theme (PDF-24K)
Individual research projects
- Assessing the cultural and spiritual values of European forests
- Assessing the effectiveness of EU policy to mitigate the impacts of catastrophic storms on forest resources in Europe (EUSTORMS)
- Green networks and people: testing new approaches to planning and delivery
- Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) social indicators
- Models for adaptive forest management (MOTIVE)
- Monitoring and evaluating quality of life for Forestry Commission England
- Northern ToSIA (Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment)
- Sustainability impact assessment of the forestry-wood chain (EFORWOOD)
- Sustainability impact assessment tools for multifunctional land use (SENSOR)
- Uptake of Decision Support Systems (DSS) in the GB forestry sector
- Valuation of the economic and social contribution of Forestry for People in Scotland
- Woodlands in and around towns (WIAT) monitoring and evaluation
Contact
David Edwards
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian EH25 9SY
UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 445 2176
Tel direct: +44 (0)131 445 8495
Fax: +44 (0)131 445 5124
Email: david.edwards@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
