The mission of Egoh’s Lab is to understand the relationship between people and nature to promote a sustainable existence between the two. Our core business is to understand how nature delivers services to humans and how to limit human’s negative impacts on nature. In addition, we aim to quantify these impacts (+&-) in both biophysical and monetary terms to understand costs and benefits. Some examples of our research include mapping and modeling ecosystem services, understanding relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services, prioritizing areas for conservation actions, understanding benefits from restoration, and assessing oil Palm sustainability
Recently, we have developed new tools including the use of big data and Machine Learning to map understudied cultural ecosystem services in data-poor Africa. We have used these tools to understand the impacts of climate change on recreational ecosystem services in California and Africa. We have researched to understand carbon emissions along the oil palm value chain and continue to research the complexities of sustainable palm oil production. In California, we are researching the impacts of incentive programs on conservation outcomes in farmlands.
We are actively involved in policy development. Prof Egoh is a coordinating lead authors on the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)’s Business and Biodiversity Assessment. She was also involved in the African Assessment. She has engaged the Round Table for Sustainable oil Palm on small holders certification in Africa and is a member of the IUCN oil Task Force. Prof Egoh is a science adviser for Blue Forest. Dr Mody is the voice of small holders within the EUÂ Trade -hub (See our documentary on smallholder farmers) Julia Lenhardt is engaged on the farm bill in USA.
Science-communication
Science-Policy
Building community!
Field work!
Friends and family!
