Research projects 6

To support and strengthen the capacity of Hamelmalo Agricultural College (HAC) so that it can contribute to increasing agriculture productivity and enhancing environmental sustainability, through their education mission by meeting ecological, economic and social needs and by building of new multidisciplinary partnerships and networks and strengthening of the existing ones.

Team

Mohamed Elfadl, Semere Amlesom, Juha Helenius, Mike Starr, Markku Larjavaara

  • Head of research Jyrki Luukkanen
  • Language n/a

The ICI-CAMBODIA project aimed to increase the capacity and substance knowledge of local teaching and researcher staff at ITC in the field of renewable energy education and energy efficiency. The university level education in renewable energy in Cambodia is lacking human and equipment resources, yet the capacity of ITC, the leading university providing such education, is inadequate to respond to the national needs. The project objective was to support a new group of local experts to promote social and environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation in national energy planning.

Team

Jyrki Luukkanen (FFRC), Venla Kinnunen (FFRC), Jari Kaivo-Oja (FFRC), Mika Korkeakoski (FFRC), Romny Om (ITC), Davin Uy (ITC), Phol Norith (ITC), Yrjö Majanne (TUT), Juha Leppänen (Tamlink Ltd.), Suvisanna Mustonen (TUT)

The main innovation of this research project is to approach and analyse REDD+ not only as a climate change mitigation measure, but as a new environmental governance mechanism that can lead to major changes in the forest governance and through it, distribution of benefits, costs, risks and opportunities of land use and forest management between the actors and groups involved. The main interest in this research is on how the notion of responsive forest governance is addressed in the processes. In this case,the responsive forest governance is concerned with issues of negotiation power, participation in planning and implementation of REDD+ and allocation of costs and benefits among the stakeholders and groups involved. The research results are expected to assist in designing socially equitable and environmentally appropriate options for REDD+ and further developing selected approaches to sustainable forestry that can help to achieve the goals of REDD+. Internationally, this proposed research could contribute significantly to policy-relevant research and empirical knowledge as well as theoretical debates on the nexus of social, economic and environmental sustainability and responsive and deliberative forest governance in developing world.

Team

Irmeli Mustalahti, PI Salla Rantala ja Melis Ece (2012-2013), Post doc researchers Sabaheta Ramcilovic-Suominen (2015-2018), Post doc researcher Daniel Hinojosa Flores, PhD student (on-going) Bishnu Devkota, PhD student (on-going) Maija Hyle, PhD student (on-going) Dipjoy Chakma, PhD student (on-going, externally funded) Mathias Cramm, research assistant (periodical) Phetsamone Soulivong, research assistant (periodical)

With the proliferation of electronic devices and the perceived obsolesce culture of consuming electronics, it has become important to study not only the current practices involved in the management of the resultant electronic waste (e-waste), but also how e-waste is interacted with in different cultures. As such, this research aims to understand the different factors (cultural and economic)influencing of e-waste management in Nigeria and in Finland.

Team

Dr. Sakari Taipale

  • Head of research Sari Pitkänen
  • Language n/a

A clear need for strengthening forestry education in Kenya has been identified by local and international stakeholders due to increasing demands of sustainable management of natural resources and fast developments of learning technologies. The key objectives of the project are to strengthen the educational capacity and societal role of University of Eldoret in Kenya within the area of sustainable natural resource management by enhancing (a) curricula and subject-specific capacity, (b) pedagogical and ICT capacity, (c) community engagement, and (d) administrative and networking capacity.

Team

Sari Pitkänen, Javier Arevalo, Jarkko Suhonen, Jaakko Helminen, Myriam Munezero

  • Head of research Sari Pitkänen
  • Language n/a

This project will reinforce the Finnish development objectives of evolving towards a more inclusive green economy and sustainability. Also in line with the objectives of Finnish development cooperation, our project will directly contribute to the achievement of some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are strongly supported by the Government of Venezuela. In case of environmental sustainability (MDG 7), this project will support the improvement in the competencies of future foresters, as well as the raised awareness on environmental issues among people. This will have an impact on a better management of forests and therefore a possible reduction of deforestation rates.

Team

Sari Pitkänen, Osvaldo Encinas, Javier Arevalo Pardo de Donlebun, Calkin Suero Montero, Jarkko Suhonen