The conceptual understanding of responsive collaborative governance of natural resources is an example of our current research challenge. Globally, there are efforts to support the transition towards the circular and bio-based economy and to reform natural resources governance in an attempt to respond to local circumstances while mitigating global climate change. We approach these interventions, agreements and processes not only as mechanisms for policy implementation, climate change mitigation and greater environmental legality but also as mechanisms for environmental governance that can lead to major changes in natural resources governance and responsiveness among actors.

Our research group directs its focus on relevant issues, including distribution of benefits, costs, risks and opportunities for land use, forest management and natural resources utilisation as well as on roles and resources among policy actors, the private sector, user groups and the local communities and citizens, such as youth involved. The main interests of this research include changes in actors’ participation in the various processes and instruments as well as the transparency of the processes in which important decisions about forest and land resources are made. We are also interested in context-specific impacts on responsiveness between different actors, and access and rights to resources is an important concept of inquiry.

The Responsive Natural Resources Governance Research Group focuses on a number of case study countries, including Finland, Russia, Laos, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Mexico, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Policy Briefs:

Ushirikiano wa usimamizi na udhibiti wa moto misitu: Nyanda za juu kusini kwa Tanzania 2023 (Swahili PDF)

Collaborative Forest Fire Management: Southern Highlands of Tanzania 2023 (English PDF)

Globaalisti vastuullista, paikallisesti vuorovaikutteista 2023 (Finnish PDF)

Globally responsible, locally responsive 2023 (English PDF)

Wajibu wa Kimataifa, Uwajibikaji Ndani ya Nchi 2022 (Swahili PDF)

Bertanggung jawab pada level global dan responsif
pada level lokal 2022 (Bahasa PDF)

Globally responsible, locally responsive 2022 (English PDF)

Globally responsible, locally responsive 2021 (English_PDF)

Bertanggung Jawab Pada Level Global dan Responsif Pada Level Lokal 2021 (Bahasa PDF)

Wajibu wa Kimataifa, Uwajibikaji Ndani ya Nchi 2021 (Swahili PDF)

Globally responsible, locally responsive 2020 (English PDF)

Globally responsible, locally responsive 2019 (English PDF)

Wajibu wa Kimataifa, uwajibikaji ndani ya nchi 2019 (Swahili PDF)

Reports:

Environmental collaboration and conflict resolution: land-related issues and small-scale private forestry in Tanzania, October 2022, Iringa Region, course report

Environmental collaboration and conflict resolution, August 2022, Finland, course report

Workshop on environmental collaboration, 19–20 April 2021, Mafinga, Iringa Region, Tanzania

Warsha Kuhusu Usimamizi wa Moto Katika Misitu ya Kupandwa 2021 (Swahili PDF)

Ushiriki wa Vijana katika Ushirikiano wa Kimazingira na Michakato ya Amani – Ripoti Ya Tukio La Kando 2020 (Swahili PDF)

Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution Course Report 2020 (online)

Youth Participation in Environmental Collaboration and Peace Processes – Side Event Report 2019 (English PDF)

Environmental collaboration and conflict resolution course report 2018

Environmental collaboration and conflict resolution course report 2016

The ECCR course series:

Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution (ECCR) course series and teaching network in a nutshell

Books:

Responsibilization in Natural Resource Governance

Contact information for the group

Irmeli Mustalahti: irmeli.mustalahti(at)uef.fi
Denis Dobrynin: denis.dobrynin(at)uef.fi