Livelihoods

Livelihoods have been the focus of much of USER’s research, in particular, we have been interested in understanding how policies might be  redirected to improve the well-being and livelihood opportunities of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

 

Picture1Empirical work has taken place in a wide range of ecological settings from coastal zones through floodplains and into the uplands of Thailand.  We have also carried out several comparative studies in collaboration with research groups in neighboring countries.

Our theoretical contributions have focused on integrating the idea of sustainable livelihoods with the application of resilience-style system analysis at the household level. We have found these concepts helpful in operationalizing ideas about sustainable livelihoods in volatile and otherwise dynamic social, political and ecological contexts.

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Selected Publications

  • Lebel L, Wattana S, Talerngsri P. (2015) Assessments of ecosystem services and human well-being in Thailand build and create demand for coproductive capacity. Ecology and Society 20.  (Abstract)
  • Lebel L, Lebel P, Sriyasak P, Rattanawilailak S, Bastakoti R.C, Bastakoti G.B. (2015) Gender relations and water management in different eco-cultural contexts in Northern Thailand. Int. J. Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology. 11, 228-246. (Abstract)
  • Lebel L, Daniel R, (2015) Governing Ecosystem Services from Upland Watersheds in Southeast Asia, Vulnerability of Land Systems in Asia. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 237-260. (Abstract)
  • Bennett, E.M.; Cramer, W.; Begossi, A.; Cundill, G.; Díaz, S.; Egoh, B.N.; Geijzendorffer, I.R.; Krug, C.B.; Lavorel, S.; Lazos, E.; Lebel, L.; Martín-López, B.; Meyfroidt, P.; Mooney, H.A.; Nel, J.L.; Pascual, U.; Payet, K.; Harguindeguy, N.P.; Peterson, G.D.; Prieur-Richard, A.-H.; Reyers, B.; Roebeling, P.; Seppelt, R.; Solan, M.; Tschakert, P.; Tscharntke, T.; Turner Ii, B.L.; Verburg, P.H.; Viglizzo, E.F.; White, P.C.L. and Woodward, G. 2015. Linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being: three challenges for designing research for sustainability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 14(0): 76-85. (Abstract)
  • Gender and the Management of Climate-Related Risks in Northern Thailand (Abstract)
  • Suhardiman D, Wichelns D, Lebel L, Sellamuttu SS. (2014). Benefit sharing in Mekong Region hydropower: Whose benefits count? Water Resources and Rural Development. 4 (0):3-11. (Abstract)
  • Sturgeon J. Menzies C. N, Lagervist Y, Thomas D, Ekhasing B, Lebel L, K. Phanvilay, and Thongmanivong S. (2013). Enclosing ethnic minorities and forests in the golden economic quadrangle. Development and Change 44(1): 53-79. (Abstract)
  • Xu J, Lebel L, and Sturgeon J. C. (2009). Functional links between biodiversity, livelihoods and culture in a Hani swidden landscape in Southwest China. Ecology and Society. 14:20. (Abstract)
  • Lebel L, and Daniel R. (2009). The governance of ecosystem services from tropical upland watersheds. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 1:61-68. (Abstract)
  • Lebel L, Daniel R, Badenoch N, and Garden P. (2008). A multi-level perspective on conserving with communities: experiences from upper tributary watersheds in montane mainland southeast Asia. International Journal of the Commons. 1:127-154. (Abstract)
  • Murdiyarso D, Lebel L, Gintings A. N, Tampubolon S. M. H, Heil A, and Wasson M. (2004). Policy responses to complex environmental problems: Insights from a science-policy activity on transboundary haze from vegetation fires in Southeast Asia. Journal of  Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment. 104:47-56. (Abstract)
  • Lebel L, Contreras A, Pasong S, and Garden P. (2004). Nobody knows best: alternative perspectives on forest management and governance in Southeast Asia: Politics, Law and Economics. International Environment Agreements. 4:111-127. (Abstract)