Research and action for locally led nature restoration
Active Project
James Mayers
Principal researcher and REDAA programme lead
Telephone: +44 (0)20 3463 7399
Languages:
English,
some Spanish and some French
James Mayers leads the Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia programme (REDAA) which is focused on supporting locally-led nature restoration. He also gets involved in initiatives which build on his experience in sustainable forestry, rural livelihoods and the governance of natural resources.
These natural resource governance initiatives have included: Policy that Works for Forests and People; Developing Markets for Watershed Services and Livelihoods; the Forest Governance Learning Group; Water Ecosystem Services under Climate Change; Land Access in Sub-Saharan Africa; China-Africa Forest Governance Project; Community Forestry in the Congo Basin; and the Politics of Tree Planting.
James has led many research groups and teams at IIED, often in initiatives involving partnerships with organisations in several countries. He has also been co-leader of The Forests Dialogue – an international organisation that aims to encourage collaborative action on high-priority issues facing the world's forests.
Expertise
Programme leadership; research and action supporting sustainable forestry; rural livelihoods; governance of natural resources.
Particular experience in Zimbabwe, Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroon, Brazil, Costa Rica, China, Pakistan, India, Papua New Guinea and the UK.
Before IIED
- Programme leader, WWF International in Liberia and Tanzania
Education
- MA natural sciences, Cambridge
- MA development studies, East Anglia
Current work
REDAA currently supports 29 research and action initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia – with grants and by facilitating mutual learning between partners. These initiatives are locally led, interdisciplinary, and focused on solutions for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience, enabling people and nature to thrive.
Video playlist
Projects
