FLARE (Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research and Engagement)
The FLARE Network is a vibrant international community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Its mission is to advance knowledge at the intersection of forests and livelihoods — and to facilitate its application to policy and practice. In so doing, FLARE brings more just and sustainable futures for people and forests worldwide.
RESEARCH
FLARE catalyzes and fosters leading-edge research on livelihoods related to forests and tree-based systems. Research efforts include impact assessments, horizon-scanning exercises, systematic reviews, comparative case studies, and many others. FLARE also establishes working groups on key themes to produce tools, reports, policy briefs, and other relevant outputs. Key research outputs include the Livelihoods and Well-being Tool (LivWell), the Community Forestry Mobile Application (CommFor), and working groups such as Forests Sustaining Agriculture and The Future of Forest Work and Communities.
NETWORK
Conferences and meetings organized with partner organizations are central to the FLARE network. FLARE has hosted six in-person meetings and two virtual conferences. In-person meetings have been held in Paris (2015), Edinburgh (2016), Stockholm (2017), Copenhagen (2018), Ann Arbor (2019), Rome (2022), and Nairobi (2023). The 2024 meeting will take place in Rome.
The FLARE Secretariat is based at the Pulte Institute for Global Development in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.
IMPACT
FLARE has cultivated a diverse, international community of practice to fill a vital niche at the nexus of forests and livelihoods, research, and practice. New knowledge, tools, and collaborations generated by FLARE have enhanced the work of practitioners, policymakers, and funding organizations to realize climate, biodiversity, and human development goals in contexts around the world.
STRATEGIC GOALS
Knowledge: Produce and share new knowledge at the intersection of forests and livelihoods.
Policy: Inform decision-making through interdisciplinary conversations and engagement across research, policy, and practice.
Resources: Develop and promote the use of low-cost tools and methods to enhance monitoring efforts and the efficacy of initiatives focusing on forest-related livelihoods.
Capacity Development: Catalyze and support the development of next-generation leaders working on forest-related livelihood issues.
Network Support: Increase the capacity of FLARE to achieve its mission.
CONTACT
For more information, contact FLARE Project Manager Brian Wanbaugh or visit FLARE online.