FOREFRONT

The FOREFRONT program focuses on agro-forest frontier areas, which are the particularly dynamic borders between forested and agricultural land. The research aim is to link the landscape-transforming strategies of the various actors with landscape changes and resulting ecosystem services. With a team of more than 25 researchers, 5 post-doctoral researchers, 11 PhD candidates and several MSc students from 4 institutions in the Netherlands, Brazil and Mexico, we aim to understand the landscape dynamics and ecosystem services provision in three rural landscapes in Mexico and Brazil. The interdisciplinary team includes specialists on soils, vegetation (forests, pastures, croplands), remote sensing, sociology, policy, participatory methods, etc. The program started in 2015 and will end January 1st, 2021.