Research Database
Fair for whom? Politics, power and precarity in transformations of swidden social-ecological systems in Southeast Asia
Basic Information
Basic information
| Project Status | Full Research (FR) |
| Duration | Apr. 2019 - Mar. 2026 |
| Research Program | Program 2: Fair use and management of diverse resources |
| Project No. | 14200149 |
| Project Title | Fair for whom? Politics, power and precarity in transformations of swidden social-ecological systems in Southeast Asia |
| Abbreviated Title | FairFrontiers |
| Project Leader | Grace Wong |
| URL | http://www.fairfrontiers.sakura.ne.jp/home/ |
| Keywords | Forest frontiers; equity; politics and power; agency; social-ecological systems; comparative analysis |
Progress and Results (2025 Year)
Research purpose and content
Objectives and background
Frontiers are not simply remote or far-away spaces. Frontiers are spaces ‘imagined’ as having unlimited possibilities for extraction and framed as being integral to economic activity (Cons & Eilenberg 2019, Tsing 2005). Frontier regions are traditionally multifunctional landscapes of mixed agriculture, fallow and forest mosaics and rapidly being converted to plantations and other extractive uses throughout the tropical Global South. These diverse relational landscapes contribute to diverse social, cultural and livelihood needs, are maintained by smallholder farming and customary practices, and are areas where indigenous people and local communities have resource and land rights (Peluso, 2005; Tsing 2005). Conversion of these complex systems to homogenous and commodified landscapes have a long and violent history, and its continued loss is both a global environmental problem and a social-ecological crisis (Beckert et al. 2021; Wolford 2021).
The history of extraction and intensification in frontiers have a long history, pursued under the guise of ‘increasing productivity of empty lands’ since colonial histories, and of ‘sustainable development’ in the 21st century, (Doolittle 2004; Rasmussen et al. 2018; Kumar 2024; Wong et al. 2022) but without the promised win-win outcomes and with its benefits habitually captured by more powerful and capital-rich actors (Dauvergne 1997; Hardin 2011; Pemunta, 2014; Schoenberger et al., 2017). Despite these outcomes, policies of land use intensification and market-based solutions continue to be promoted as the development solution. The interplay of institutional histories, politics and interests have influenced flows of finance, commodities and discourses that have often simply reinforced a continuation of business-as-usual (Brockhaus et al. 2024; Mosseau et al. 2020; Windey, 2020). Meanwhile, local people have to adapt and navigate ever more restrictive access to forests, land and resources, and attempt to reshape, limit or make possible the development options that are available (Hall et al. 2015; Wong et al., 2024).
How can development in frontiers transform to be more sustainable and equitable, and include local and indigenous justice? We apply an analytical frame to examine transformational change in frontiers as shifts of power relations, discursive practices and incentive structures away from extractive practices (Brockhaus et al. 2021). We apply an interdisciplinary and mixed methods approach to assess the social-ecological system and transdisciplinary approaches to include different knowledge systems and practices. Further, we apply critical analytical methods to examine the complex histories, political and institutional dynamics, and discursive practices in frontiers and their equity consequences.
The overall objective of this research is thus to generate grounded contextual understandings of the social-political-ecological aspects of transformations in forest-agriculture frontiers in Central Africa and Southeast Asia, and to identify options for equitable and sustainable development.
Methodology, structure and schedule
We carried out research in forest-agriculture frontiers across Central Africa and Southeast Asia. Our case study regions are Cameroon, DRC, Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia Borneo), Laos and Sulawesi (led by Universitas Hasanuddin). These regions present unique cases of changing frontiers with different social- political-ecological contexts and processes of change. We collected and analyzed various sources of data and knowledge, including field observations at local levels, local and indigenous knowledge, policy documents, spatial data, trade transactions and archival materials.
The project is organized as five interlinked modules in a structure that enables interdisciplinary and collaborative work. The project adapts an integrated approach towards understanding how socio-ecological change in frontiers affects, and are co-constructed by, capabilities to pursue material and non-material wellbeing (Masterson et al. 2019; Sen 1999). We build on the IPBES conceptual frame on plural values and nature’s contribution to people (IPBES 2022; Diaz et al. 2018) as a frame for inclusion of relational values and diverse knowledge systems. This involves a deeply participatory approach to understanding the non-material and relational aspects of wellbeing and ecosystem services using mix of gender-disaggregated focus group discussions, transect walks, qualitative ecosystem service valuations, soil sampling and photovoice (FairFrontiers 2024; 2025).
A key aspect of the project’s analytical framework is its critical examination of the underlying politics and discursive power that underlies frontier change, ranging from institutional path dependencies of (colonial and post-colonial) development (Cochrane & Andrews 2021; Lees 2017; Peluso & Vandergeest 2001) and everyday politics (Kerkvliet, 2009; Scott, 1986). We take inspiration from recent research on the assemblage of politics, interests and access in frontiers (Cons & Eilenberg 2019; Ishikawa, 2018; Mahanty 2022; O’Reilly & Varkkey 2024), and carry out critical discursive analyses of policy (Nkongolo et al. 2025), media and archival material (Ehrlichmann 2024; Goldsmith 2024), network and coalition analyses (Brockhaus et al. 2025; Kan et al. 2024), as well as apply a telecoupling approach to dissect the flows of finance, commodities and ideas in, and out of frontiers (Ali & Varkkey 2023; Downing et al. 2021; Koh et al. 2025).
To carry out empirical assessments of equity in changing frontiers, we draw on theories of social and environmental justice and equity (Fraser, 2010; Pascual et al. 2023; Schlosberg & Carruthers, 2010; Sikor et al., 2014), and examine our data through a multi-dimensional lens that also consider relational values, knowledge pluralism and political histories (Dkamela et al., in review; Holm 2022; Stephen et al., in review; Wong et al. 2024).
The field research used a structured data collection and management protocol (FairFrontiers 2024) and were co-led by the in-country research partners. Through partners, we carried out methods training and engaged with local graduate and undergraduate students, indigenous teachers and community members in data collection and field activities. Recognizing that our research is on indigenous and customary lands and with often marginal communities, we adhere to values of integrity and respect as outlined in the research ethics, and practice reciprocity of knowledge in a relational accountability toward local and Indigenous communities (David-Chavez et al. 2024). All partners, students and community members agree to a principle of ethical research, including in field work, data analyses and publication.
Challenges and achievements for this year
Project overall progress
The deep interdisciplinary collaborations and close working relationships amongst the project members and country partners have led to diverse ways of knowing and understanding equity, wellbeing and human-nature relations. This reflexivity is helping to advance theory and methods. We are working on theory- and framework-building on infrastructures driving inequalities and distal flows and local (in)justice, as well as empirical and nuanced analyses of equity, ecosystem services and wellbeing. Much of our work has been presented at public seminars in the research regions and feedback from country actors inform the interpretation of data. Importantly, the project members collectively contribute towards transformative policy change through dialogues and engagement with diverse actor groups.
Since the start of the project, 22 peer-reviewed journal articles and 9 book chapters have been published. We have co-edited a special section in Forest & Society journal: “Centering equity and justice in land use transformation in the Global South”, which is now published with 7 articles. We developed 1 graduate-level course and 6 lecture series, and our research has contributed to completion of 9 MSc. An additional 5 PhDs and 2 MSc are ongoing in the local universities, as well as in the universities of our core partners.
In addition to the academic outputs, we have carried out photovoice activities in 4 regions, (co)organized 4 photovoice exhibitions (thus far), and (co)organized 8 public seminars and 1 international conference across the research regions. Further, we gave 61 talks in 18 international conferences and published 3 policy briefs.
The project held a public exhibition of our research, Lives on the Edge, together with a series of research talks, in the Kyoto Human Rights Research Institute from 12-19 Jan, 2026.
Expected results
Field data collection was completed in 2025. We build our data corpus using a diverse portfolio of research methods that enables comparability across sites. This data corpus allows for site-specific and comparative analyses of material and non-material wellbeing-ecosystem interlinkages, and empirical assessments of wellbeing and equity (Dhiaulhaq et al. 2024; Maung et al. 2025; Metaragakusuma et al, in review; Sidibe et al., in review).
We are currently working on a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) design to ‘learn’ from the different contexts of the case regions (Mello 2021). The QCA approach allows us to identify the combination of enabling (and hindering) conditions that enable more equitable and sustainable development pathways. A 2-day workshop was held in October 2025 on the QCA research design. This work is co-constructed and co-analyzed with our country partners who provide deep contextual knowledge and understanding of the data.
Project Members
Project Members
- Leader, WONG Mun Yee Grace, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Associate Professor
- AGUIAR, Ana Paula Dutra de , Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Division, Brazilian Institute for Space Research, Technologist
- Sub leader, BROCKHAUS, Maria , University of Helsinki, Professor
- BRUUN, Thilde Bech, Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Associate Professor
- CHACGOM, Aristide , Green Development Advocates, Director
- CHAN, Nyein , Department of Bioenvironmental Design, Kyoto university of Advanced Science, Junior Associate Professor
- ISHIKAWA Noboru, Global Humanosphere Division, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University, professor
- JOHN, Gordon Thomas, Natural Resource Management program, PACOS Trust, Program coordinator
- JOHN, Kelvin Egay, University Malaysia Sarawak, Lecturer
- LAIN, Christine , Upemba National Park, Forgotten Parks Asbl, Director
- Sub leader, MERTZ, Ole , Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Professor
- Sub leader, MOELIONO, Moira , Research, Center for International Forestry Research, Senior Associate
- NAITO Daisuke, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Assistant Professor
- NKONGOLO MUKAYA, Jules -Fortunat, Action Research Department - Interdisciplinary and Publication, Center for Intercultural and Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development in Southern and Central Africa CERIDAC acronym Learned Society, Director
- NTIRUMENYERWA MIHIGO, Blaise-Pascal , University of Kinshasa, Associate Professor
- Sub leader, SAHIDE, Muhammad Alif K., Forestry, Forest and Society Research Group (FSRG) of Hasanuddin University, Professor
- Sub leader, SAKAI Shoko , Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Associate Professor
- SELOMANE, Odirilwe , Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, Senior Lecturer
- TENGÖ, Maria , Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Principal researcher
- THONGMANIVONG, Sithong , National Unviersity of Laos, Professor
- VARKKEY, Helena Binti Muhamad, UNIVERSITI MALAYA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
- ASSEMBE-MVONDO, Samuel , Wildlife Conservation Society, DR Congo, Senior Policy Advisor
- HEPP, Catherine Maria, School of Agriculture Sciences, Lethbridge Polytechnic, Sessional instructor
- SIDIBE, Alimata, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Senior Researcher
- METARAGAKUSUMA, Andi Patiware, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Researcher
- MAUNG, Wai Phyoe, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Researcher
- KAN Ayami, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Research Associate
- SUJASWARA, Azawar Azmillah, FairFrontiers Project, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Research Associate
Research Achievement
Books etc
Single work / Joint work
- Brockhaus, M., Obeng-Odoom, F., Wong, G.Y., May 2024, Forest-related finance landscape and potential for just investments, 57-82, Joint work, Kleinschmidt, D., Wildburger, C., Grima, N. and Fisher, B., International Forests Governance: A critical review of trends, drawbacks, and new approaches, 164, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), English, Refereed, Report, ISBN: 978-3-903345-25-6
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Julius Chupezi Tieguhong, Grace Wong and Maria Brockhaus, Dec. 2023, 169-187, Joint work, Crises, Complexities and Claims in Protected Areas – Landscape of (In) Coherent Biodiversity Governance and Social-Environmental Injustice in Southwest Cameroon, 19, Routledge, English, Refereed, Scholarly book
- Niina Pietarinen, Niak Sian Koh, Alizee Ville, Maria Brockhaus, Grace Wong, Oct. 2023, Joint work, Can REDD+ finance compete with established and emerging land investments? The case of Mai-Ndombe, Democratic Republic of Congo, 8, CIFOR-ICRAF, English, Refereed, Scholarly book
- Raphael Tsanga, Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Guillaume Lescuyer, Cédric Vermeulen, David Andrew Wardell, Marie-Ange Kalenga, Laurence Boutinot, Phil René Oyono, Gretchen Walters, Olivier Hymas, Fernande Abanda Ngono, Jean-Claude Nguinguiri, Eugenio Sartoretto, Sandra Ratiarison, 07 Jul. 2022, The rights of local and indigenous peoples in the light of forest and conservation policies, 339-366, Joint work, Eba’a Atyi Richard, Congo Basin Forests - State of the Forests of Central Africa 2021, 448, CIFOR, English, Refereed, Report
Uncategorized
- Jules Fortuna; Nkongolo Mukaya; Christian Tshibanda Mulunda; Fanny Ndilu Mpongo; Jean Pierre Lumbala; Eveliina Koskinen; Alimata Sidibe; Maria Brockhaus; Grace Y. Wong, 2025, A Critical Review of the Legislation on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Indigenous Pygmy Peoples (Law No. 22/030 of July 15, 2022) in DR Congo., ISBN: 9789995194208
Published Papers
- Muhammad Alif K. Sahide; Siswandi Siswandi; Nurhady Sirimorok; Micah R. Fisher; Grace Yee Wong; Maria Brockhaus, Jun. 2026, The SPA-cube framework: An integrated approach for analysing power dynamics in environmental governance, MethodsX, English, Scientific journal
- Catherine Hepp, Ahmad Dhiaulhaq, Laetitia Adjoffoin, Corine Ehowe, Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Thilde Bech Bruun, Feb. 2026, Perceived ecosystem service bundles across forested landscapes in transition: A case study in southern Cameroon, Ambio, 55, 415-432, Springer Nature, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Simon West; Oliver Lilford; Vanessa Masterson; Emmeline Laszlo Ambjörnsson; Beau Austin; Bram Büscher; Laura‐Bethia Campbell; Marnie Graham; Kuntala Lahiri‐Dutt; Lisen Schultz; Marja Spierenburg; Grace Wong; Carina Wyborn, Jan. 2026, Masculinities in Conservation Science, Policy and Practice: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Conservation Letters, English, Scientific journal
- Wai Phyoe Maung; Yoth Vanhnasin; Sithong Thongmanivong; Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma; Alimata Sidibe; Grace Yee Wong, Dec. 2025, Rural lives and perceived well-being in commercializing landscapes of northern Laos, Wellbeing, Space and Society, Scientific journal
- Niak Sian Koh; Niina Pietarinen; Alizée Ville; Félicien Kengoum; Grace Wong; Maria Brockhaus, Dec. 2025, Follow the money: Can REDD+ finance compete with established and emerging land investments in Mai-Ndombe, Democratic Republic of Congo?, Forest Policy and Economics, 181, 103664-103664, Elsevier BV, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Wai Phyoe Maung; Yoth Vanhnasin; Sithong Thongmanivong; Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma; Alimata Sidibe; Grace Yee Wong, Dec. 2025, Rural lives and perceived well-being in commercializing landscapes of northern Laos, Wellbeing, Space and Society, 9, 100320-100320, Elsevier BV, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Maria Brockhaus; Ayami Kan; Alain Mfoulou; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Aristide Chacgom; Gordon John Thomas; Felicien Kengoum; Daisuke Naito; Helena Varkkey; Grace Y. Wong, 22 Sep. 2025, Forest land deals, resistance, and legitimisation – a comparative analysis of discourse coalitions and silent actors in Cameroon and Malaysia, Third World Quarterly, 1-22, Informa UK Limited, English, Scientific journal
- Alimata Sidibe, Aug. 2025, Ecosystem Services and Life Satisfaction: Insights from Local Communities around Upemba National Park
- Ayami Kan; Maria Brockhaus; Gordon John; Helena Varkkey; Grace Y. Wong, Oct. 2024, Fatal attraction to win–win-win? Debates and contestations in the media on Nature Conservation Agreement in Sabah, Malaysia, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 29, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Grace Y. Wong, Sep. 2024, Transforming Borneo: From Land Exploitation to Sustainable Development. Chun ShengGohandLesleyPotter. ISEAS‐Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, 2023, pp. xix + 358. ISBN 978‐9‐815‐01164‐7 (pbk)., Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, English
- Maria Brockhaus, Veronique De Sy, Monica Di Gregorio, Martin Herold, Grace Y. Wong, Robert Ochieng, Arild Angelsen, Aug. 2024, Data and information in a political forest: The case of REDD+, Forest Policy and Economics, 165, Elsevier, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Niak Sian Koh; Grace Y. Wong; Thomas Hahn, 27 Jun. 2024, Radical incrementalism: hydropolitics and environmental discourses in Laos, Environmental Politics, 1-23, Informa UK Limited, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Grace Yee Wong; Mawa Karambiri; Thu Thuy Pham; Alizée Ville; Tuan Long Hoang; Chi Dao Thi Linh; Andrea Downing; Amanda Jiménez-Aceituno; Maria Brockhaus, 21 Jun. 2024, When Policies Problematize the Local: Social-Environmental Justice and Forest Policies in Burkina Faso and Vietnam, Forest and Society, 8 (1), 296-313, Fakultas Kehutanan, Universitas Hasanuddin (Forestry Faculty, Hassannuddin Univ), English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Paula Andrea Sánchez García; Grace Yee Wong, 23 Mar. 2024, The political economy of deforestation in the Colombian Amazon, Journal of Political Ecology, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Alimata Sidibe, 13 Feb. 2024, Embarking on a Wild Adventure in Search of Zebras
- Ahmad Dhiaulhaq; Catherine M. Hepp; Laetitia M. Adjoffoin; Corine Ehowe; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Grace Y. Wong, Feb. 2024, Environmental justice and human well-being bundles in protected areas: An assessment in Campo Ma'an landscape, Cameroon, Forest Policy and Economics, 159, 103137-103137, Elsevier BV, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Mawa Karambiri; Alizée H. G. Ville; Grace Y. Wong; Amanda Jimenez-Aceituno; Andrea Downing; Maria Brockhaus, 27 Jan. 2024, What is the Problem of Gender Inequality Represented to be in Inter-National Development Policy in Burkina Faso?, Forum for Development Studies, 1-30, Informa UK Limited, English, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Maria Brockhaus; Franklin Obeng-Odoom; Grace Y. Wong, 2024, The Forest-related Finance Landscape and Potential for Just Investments, International Forest Governance: A Critical Review of Trends, Drawbacks and New Approaches, 57-83, International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), English, In book
- Ley, D.; Vause, J.; Pengue, W. A.; Cavanagh, C. J.; Eriksen, S. H.; Kharrazi, A.; Pacheco, A.; Ahmed, I.; Cisneros-Montemayor, A.; De Palma, A.; Glavovic, B. C.; Iiyama, M.; King-Okumu. C.; Platais, G. H.; Reda, F.; Sangha, K. K.; Schumacher, K.; Tormáné Kovács, E.; Wong, G. Y., 2024, Chapter 6. Options for delivering sustainable approaches to public and private finance for biodiversity-related elements of the nexus, Thematic Assessment of the Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, English, Refereed, In book
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Julius Chupezi Tieguhong; Grace Wong; Maria Brockhaus, 06 Dec. 2023, Crises, Complexities and Claims in Protected Areas, Power Dynamics in African Forests, 169-187, Routledge, English, Refereed, In book
- Pietarinen Niina; Koh Niak Sian; Alizee Ville; Maria Brockhaus; Grace Wong, Oct. 2023, Can REDD+ finance compete with established and emerging land investments? The case of Mai-Ndombe, Democratic Republic of Congo, CIFOR-ICRAF Info Brief, (395), Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), English, Refereed, Research society
- Sahide, M. A. K., Dhiaulhaq, A., et al., Jan. 2023, Blind-spots and spotlights in bureaucratic politics: An analysis of policy co-production in environmental governance dynamics in Indonesia, Development Policy Review, English, Refereed
- Grace Y. Wong; Minda Holm; Niina Pietarinen; Alizee Ville; Maria Brockhaus, Sep. 2022, The making of resource frontier spaces in the Congo Basin and Southeast Asia: A critical analysis of narratives, actors and drivers in the scientific literature, World Development Perspectives, 27, 100451-100451, Elsevier BV, Refereed, Scientific journal
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, 07 Jul. 2022, Les droits des populations locales et autochtones a l'épreuve des politiques forestières et de conservation, Les forets du Bassin du Congo- Etat des forets 2021, French, Refereed
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Ayami Kan, 2022, An overview of interactions between wildlife and forest illegalities in Cameroon, International Forestry Review, 24 (4), 459-468, English, Refereed
- Brockhaus, M.; Di Gregorio, M.; Djoudi, H.; Moeliono, M.; Pham, T.T.; Wong, G.Y., 2021, The forest frontier in the Global South: Climate change policies and the promise of development and equity, Ambio, English, Scientific journal
MISC
- Wai Phyoe Maung; Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma, Dec. 2025, Storymaps: Who owns the land?, English
- Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma; Alimata Sidibe, 20 Nov. 2025, Poster: Well-being and Ecosystem Service in Frontiers: Insights from Sabah and D. R. Congo, RIHN General Meeting-Poster Session, English
- Wai Phyoe Maung, Jan. 2025, Feeling like a farmer, English, Others
- Wai Phyoe Maung; Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma, 30 Oct. 2024, Poster: The Impacts of Landscape Change on Community Well-being in Pitas, Sabah, Malaysia (A poster was made to share preliminary findings from the household surveys with the community of Pitas)
- Andi Patiware; Metaragakusuma; Kasmiati; Pamula Mita Andary, 30 Sep. 2024, Research Blog: Amplifying Local Voices Through a Photovoice Exhibition
- Andi Patiware Metaragakusuma, 30 Aug. 2024, Research Blog: Exploring Pitas, Sabah
Presentations
- Grace Wong, Examining Social-Environmental Justice and the Making of Frontiers, Public Seminar: Frontier-making, Indigenous Peoples and Changing Landscapes, Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies, PACOS Trust, 26 Jan. 2026, English, Public discourse
- Maria Brockhaus, Follow the Money: Finance and Investments in Tree Plantation, Social-environmental justice, land rights, and resistance in frontier regions, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 26 Jan. 2026, 26 Jan. 2026 26 Jan. - 2026, Invited, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Why do we study frontiers - and why social-environmental justice matters, Lives on the Edge exhibition, Human Rights Research Institute, Kyoto, 12 Jan. 2026, English, Public discourse
- Grace Wong, Examining Inequalities in Frontiers, Public Seminar: The Making of Resources Frontiers: Territoriality, Agency, Equity, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 03 Dec. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Andi Patiware; Metaragakusuma; Gordon John Thomas; Nasiri Sabiah; Doris Losimbang; Wai Phyoe Maung; Grace Wong, Perception of Fairness and Human Well-Being Bundles: A Case Study in Sabah, Malaysia, THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR HUMAN SECURITY (SUSTAIN 2025), 18 Nov. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Capital and lives in the boom landscapes of Northern Laos, International Symposium on Integrative Forest Governance, Policy & Economics, IUFRO & Renmin University, Beijing, 10 Oct. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Equity and the case of forests and benefit sharing in Cameroon and Vietnam, International Symposium on Integrative Forest Governance, Policy & Economics, IUFRO & Renmin University, Beijing, 09 Oct. 2025, Invited, English, Invited oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Can policies and finance support relational values? Case study of Oland, Sweden, TC/ESG25, Transformations Community-Earth System Governance, Johannesburg, 20 Aug. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Voices of the silenced in development of the forest frontier in Pitas, Sabah, TC/ESG25, Transformations Community-Earth System Governance, Johannesburg, 20 Aug. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Alimata Sidibe, Ecosystem Services and Life Satisfaction: Insights from Local Communities around Upemba National Park, TC/ESG25, 19 Aug. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Alimata Sidibe, Local Perspectives on Protected Areas, Plantation Expansion, and Non-Material Well-being in the Campo Ma'an Landscape, Cameroon, 19 Aug. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Capital and lives in the boom landscapes of Northern Laos, What Environmental Diplomacy for the Congo Basin?, International Relations Institute of Cameroon, University of Yaounde, 06 Mar. 2025, English, Nominated symposium
- Grace Wong, Biocultural biodiversity can bolster Amazon's resilience against climate change, 10 New Insights in Climate Science, Future Earth Japan, 27 Jan. 2025, Invited, Invited oral presentation
- Maria Brockhaus, Critical Political Economy: Global material & immaterial flows into forestlands, RIHN Land Use Innovation International Seminar: The political frontier - Bridging political economy & political ecology, Kyoto, Japan, 24 Jan. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Kelvin Egay, Dimensions of resistance in frontiers, RIHN Land Use Innovation International Seminar: The political frontier - Bridging political economy & political ecology, FairFrontiers, Kyoto, Japan, 24 Jan. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- M. Alif K. Sahide, The dilemma of indigeneity in the frontiers, RIHN Land Use Innovation International Seminar: The political frontier - Bridging political economy & political ecology, FairFrontiers, Kyoto, Japan, 24 Jan. 2025, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, J. Stephen, P. Lajumin, G. John, A.P. Metaragakusuma, M. Brockhaus, Voices of the silenced in development of the forest frontier in Pitas Sabah, Global Land Programme 5th Open Science Meeting, Global Land Programme, Oaxaca, Mexico, Mexico, 07 Nov. 2024, 04 Nov. 2024 08 Nov. - 2024, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, B. Yachongtou, D. Keokanya, Y. Vanhnasin, Wai P.M., S. Thongmanivong, Capital and lives in the boom landscapes of Northern Laos, Global Land Programme 5th Open Science Meeting, Global Land Programme, Oaxaca, Mexico, Mexico, 06 Nov. 2024, 04 Nov. 2024 08 Nov. - 2024, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Diverging interests and discourses in frontier change: Case studies from Sabah, Malaysia and Mai Ndombe, DR Congo, Resources, Environment & Development (RE&D) Annual Keynote Lecture, Resources, Environment & Development (RE&D), Crawford School of Public Policy, Australia National University, Canberra, 03 Oct. 2024, Invited, English, Keynote oral presentation
- Alimata Sidibe, Changing Frontiers and Socio-ecological crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo): case of the Upemba National Park, PECS3 conference: Pathways to sustainability, 13 Aug. 2024, 12 Aug. 2024 15 Aug. - 2024, English, Poster presentation
- Alimata Sidibe, Capital and lives in the commercializing landscapes of Northern Laos, PECS3 conference: Pathways to sustainability, 13 Aug. 2024, 12 Aug. 2024 15 Aug. - 2024, English, Oral presentation
- Andi Patiware; Metaragakusuma; Jeannet Stephen; Patricia Lajumin; Gordon John Thomas; Nasiri Sabiah; Doris Losimbang; Grace Wong; Maria Brockhaus, Using Photovoice Approach: Capturing the Complex Realities of the Forest Transformation in Pitas, Sabah, The 1st Forest and Society International Conference (FSIC), 27 Jul. 2024, English
- Changing Frontiers and Socio-ecological crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. C), First Forest and Society Research Group (FSIC) 2024, 27 Jul. 2024, Invited, English, Oral presentation
- Wai Phyoe Maung, Measuring Human Wellbeing from Land Uses in Northern Laos, Forest and Society International Conference, University of Hasanuddin, Makassar, 27 Jul. 2024, Invited, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong; Maria Brockhaus; Ayami Kan; Gordon John Thomas, Methods for examining local voices and discourses around forest and land change in Sabah, Borneo & Indigenous Studies Seminar, Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies (BorIIS) UMS, University of Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, 23 Jan. 2024, 23 Jan. 2024 23 Jan. - 2024, Invited, English, Public symposium
- Grace Wong, Sharing ’benefits’ or relegating risks? REDD+ discourses and equity implications, International Workshop on Benefit, Cost and Risk Sharing, University of Sunshine Coast, Hybrid: Brisbane and online, 04 Oct. 2023, Invited, English, Invited oral presentation
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Jules Nkongolo Mukaya, Grace Wong, Maria Brockhaus, An overview of socio-environmental injustices and the development of large-scale plantations in DR Congo: An analysis of colonial legacy, XIX Biennial IASC Conference, University of Nairobi, University of Bern, Nairobi, Kenya, 24 Jun. 2023, 14 Jun. 2023 24 Jun. - 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Ahmad Dhiaulhaq, Catherine Hepp, Laetitia M. Adjoffoin, Corine Ehowe, Environmental Justice and Human Well-being Bundles in Protected Areas: An assessment in Campo Ma’an Landscape, Cameroon, XIX Biennial IASC Conference, University of Nairobi, University of Bern, Nairobi, Kenya, 23 Jun. 2023, 14 Jun. 2023 24 Jun. - 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Maria Brockhaus, Ayami Kan, Alain Mfoulou, Grace Wong, with Samuel Assembe, Aristide Chacgom, Gordon John, Felicien Kengoum, Daisuke Naito, Helena Varkkey, The many voices of resistance – and legitimation – in forest & “development” frontiers in Cameroon and Malaysia: A media-based discourse analysis, XIX Biennial IASC Conference, University of Nairobi, University of Bern, Nairobi, Kenya, 21 Jun. 2023, 14 2023 24 Jun. - 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Niina Pietarinen, Niak Koh, Maria Brockhaus, Financial flows and diverging interests: REDD+, forest, mining, and cattle concessions in Mai Ndombe, DR Congo, XIX Biennial IASC Conference, University of Nairobi, University of Bern, Nairobi, Kenya, 19 Jun. 2023, 14 Jun. 2023 24 Jun. - 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong, Climate change mitigation, development and social-environmental injustices in forest frontiers, Unpacking freshwater’s role: Climate mitigation measures in land systems, Stockholm International Water Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 30 Mar. 2023, English, Public discourse
- Ole Mertz, Living with(in) Protected Areas – does the separation of protected areas from agricultural land work in practice?, RIHN Seminar: Can agriculture and nature conservation co-exist at forest-agriculture frontiers?, Kyoto, 07 Mar. 2023, Invited, English, Public discourse
- Hepp, Catherine; Dhiaulhaq, Ahmad, Perceived forest ecosystem services and links to human well-being in communities of transition in Southern Cameroon, Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) 2023, 28 Feb. 2023, English, Public symposium
- Grace Wong, Assessing social-environmental justice in forest frontiers: Empirical methods and insights, FairFrontiers Public Seminar, Kyoto, 27 Jan. 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Maria Brockhaus, Unpacking infrastructures of inequality in deforestation politics in DRC through Twitter data, FairFrontiers Public Seminar, Kyoto, 27 Jan. 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Environmental justice and investments affecting foreset lands in Cameroon, FariFrontiers Public Seminar, Kyoto, 27 Jan. 2023, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Wong; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Ahmad Dhiaulhaq; Catherine Hepp, An analytical framework to well-being, ecosystem services and social-environmental justice in frontiers, CIFOR-UNIKIN Science-Policy Dialogue on Forests and Climate Change, 14 Dec. 2022, Public discourse
- Grace Wong; Maria Brockhaus; Ayami Kan; Alain Fabrice Mfoulou; Aristide Chacgom; Daisuke Naito; Helena Varkkey; Niina Pietarinen; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Power and path-dependency of narratives in policy and media, RIHN-KLASICA-IASS Symposium on Narrative Insights for Emerging Cultures of Sustainability, 28 Oct. 2022, English, Oral presentation
- Maria Brockhaus; Grace Wong; Alain Fabrice Mfoulou; Aristide Chacgom; Daisuke Naito; Helena Varkkey; Niina Pietarinen; Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Infrastructures of inequality in the development of forest and forestland in Malaysia and Cameroon, 8th Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research, and Engagement (FLARE) Annual Meeting, 10 Oct. 2022, Oral presentation
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo, Grace Wong, Maria Brockhaus, Environmental justice and investments affecting forest lands in Cameroon, Nordic Environmental Social Science Conference: Emergency and transformation, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, 09 Jun. 2022, 07 Jun. 2022 09 Jun. - 2022, English, Oral presentation
- Grace Y. Wong, Development and climate change policies in SE Asian forest frontiers: Interests, ideas and the promises of equity, Kyoto Winter School 2022: Virtual International Graduate Seminar on Sustainable Development in Asia, 28 Feb. 2022, Invited, Keynote oral presentation
- Samuel Assembe-Mvondo; Grace Wong, An Overview of Agro-industry Investments and Land Inequalities in Cameroon, Development Days 2022: Infrastructures, technologies, and vulnerabilities in global development, 18 Feb. 2022, English, Oral presentation
- Panel session organized by Maria Brockhaus; Symphorien Ongolo; Grace Wong; http://www.kehitystutkimus.fi/conference/working-groups/working-group-5, Forests, politics and the infrastructures of inequality (Working group 5), Development Days 2022: Infrastructures, technologies, and vulnerabilities in global development, 17 Feb. 2022 18 Feb. - 2022, English, Nominated symposium
- Presenters include; Grace Wong; SRC/RIHN; Mawa Karambiri; University of Helsinki; Alizee Ville; University of Helsinki; Amanda Jimenez-Aceituno, SRC; Hanna Sinare, SRC; Anamika Das, ATREE; Nadia Sitas; Stellenbosch University, Revisiting inequality and social injustice in sustainable development (Panel session), DevRes 2021: Advancing Sustainable Transformation, 15 Jun. 2021, English, Oral presentation