
Madelene Ostwald
Associate Professor, Docent
How are land and forests managed, and how does it relate to desired outputs such as more products, reduced climate change, and more ecosystem services? In my research, I study the practitioner and the influence of policies, knowledge, and networks.
Land, forest and users in focus
Using forest and land to provide more products and generate positive effects, using it multifunctionally, has great support in science.
Multifunctional land use often delivers to a greater extent the effects demanded by national and international policies in the form of increased carbon sequestration, diversified products, increased biodiversity and resilience against unwanted weather events, changing prices or insect attacks. Nevertheless, it is difficult as a land user to change the production system from the business-as-usual practices as the business is dependent on, among other things, knowledge, inputs, buyers, income and security. How the forest owner, landowner or farmer does and changes their management in order to reach a higher degree of multifunctional land use is my research interest.
Education and degrees
- Associate Professor (Docent) in Geography especially Physical Geography, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg. 2007.
- PhD Geography especially Physical Geography, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg. Thesis: Local protection of tropical dry natural forest, Orissa, India. 2000.
- Masters Geography especially Physical Geography, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Gothenburg. 1995.
Engagement, networks and collaborations
- AgriFoSe2030 – steering group member and challenge leader
- Focali Forests, climate and livelyhoods
- Co-editor of Ambio - A Journal of Environment and Society