The Department of Geography and Geology of the Faculty of Science offers a PhD position on Local communities and Reducing Emission from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in Lao PDR. The position is open for appointment from September 1st 2011.
The project will be an integral part of Work Package 5 (WP5) of the EU Framework Programme 7 funded project "Impacts of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Enhancing Carbon Stocks (I-REDD+)", which is coordinated by the Department of Geography and Geology - see www.i-redd.eu. The objectives of WP5 are to assess the costs and benefits of REDD+ for short and long term livelihoods and food security at the local level. Specifically, WP5 looks at :
1) opportunity costs associated with different livelihood and land use systems to establish whether REDD+ rent can offset foregone land use and livelihood opportunities;
2) REDD+ impacts on livelihoods by analyzing potential direct and indirect costs and benefits of REDD+ through participatory approaches; and
3) monitoring livelihood impacts of REDD+ by local communities through participatory methods. The project works in Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and China.
Job description
The aim of the PhD position is to enhance our knowledge on the extent to which local communities may benefit from REDD+ and be engaged in active monitoring of livelihood change as a function of REDD payments. The Phd student will look specifically at opportunity cost analysis to establish the value of foregone income opportunities in areas where REDD+ pilot projects are implemented and will also focus on developing and analyzing participatory monitoring of livelihood change.
The student must be prepared for longer periods of field work in the case area around the National Park Nam Et Phou Louey in Luang Prabang Province, Laos, and will work together with other scientists of the I-REDD+ project.
Place of employment and work will be divided between the Department of Geography and Geology, ster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen and National University of Laos, Vientiane, Laos.
Ph.D. fellowship-Local communities and Reducing Emission from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) in Lao PDR
