School of Earth and Environment
Untitled Document

Lindsay C. Stringer Dr Lindsay C. Stringer

Co-Director, Sustainability Research Institute; Reader in Environment and Development

Telephone number: +44(0) 113 34 37530
Email address: l.stringer@leeds.ac.uk
Room: 9.105

Biography

Lindsay's research is interdisciplinary and uses theories and methods from both the natural and social sciences to understand environmental change and livelihood dynamics. She has field experience in Africa, UK and Eastern Europe. Lindsay has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals, as well as book chapters, working papers, book reviews, magazine articles and policy reports. She has also presented her work at international conferences across the world. In addition, Lindsay has a growing international consultancy reputation, having undertaken commissioned work on several occasions for the United Nations, as well as for the UK Government's Department for International Development and other agencies and organisations.

Lindsay has recently been involved in projects funded by bodies such as the UK's Joint Research Councils (NERC, ESRC, BBSRC) under the Rural Economy and Land Use Programme, the European Commission (Framework Programmes 6 and 7), the British Academy, and DFID/NERC/ESRC under the Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation Programme. Her current research projects include:

  • Desertification Mitigation and Remediation of Degraded Land (DESIRE- funded through EU FP6). This project examines alternative strategies for the use, protection and rehabilitation of 18 international desertification 'hotspots' and brings together 28 research institutions, non-governmental organisations and policy makers from all over the world.
  • Managing land for carbon in southern Africa: Relationships between carbon, livelihoods and ecosystem services (Funded through the DFID/NERC/ESRC Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation programme, part of the Living with Environmental Change Programme). This project considers carbon stores and fluxes relating to soil and vegetation along a transect through Namibia-Botswana-Zambia-Malawi, examining tradeoffs between land use shifts, the continued provision of ecosystem services and the ways they link to livelihoods of the poor.
  • Involved: What makes stakeholder participation work? (Funded by the British Academy). This project investigates what makes stakeholder participation in environmental management work. By understanding why different approaches work in different contexts, more appropriate participatory processes can be designed.
  • Sustainable Uplands: Transforming Knowledge for Upland Change (Funded through the Joint Research Councils' Rural Economy and Land Use programme). This project develops new approaches that can stimulate knowledge exchange, learning and innovation between researchers, policy makers, businesses, local stakeholders and the wider public with an interest in Upland Sustainability.
  • Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy (CCCEP) . CCCEP is funded by the ESRC. I am involved in research on adaptation to climate change and human development. This programme aims to advance our understanding of the socio-economic impacts of climate change, the capacity of public and private decision-makers to adapt, and the policy responses needed to reduce the costs of climate change on social and economic development.
  • Sustainable Liquid Biofuels from Biomass Biorefining (SUNLIBB). SUNLIBB is funded through EU FP7 and brings together researchers and industrial innovators to overcome technical barriers for second generation bioethanol production. The project aims to ensure that the new processes developed fulfil sustainability requirements across environmental, social and economic dimensions and is working in cooperation with CEProBIO, Brazil.
  • Sustainable delivery of pollination services for African food production. (Funded through the DFID/NERC/ESRC Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation programme). This project aims to identify the knowledge gaps and scientific challenges currently hampering the sustainable delivery of crop pollination and honey production services to rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualifications

BSc Geography (University of Sheffield); MSc Environmental Monitoring and Assessment in Drylands (University of Sheffield); PhD Geography (University of Sheffield)

Memberships/Fellowships

Lindsay is the reviews editor for the journal Land Degradation and Development, an associate editor for the journal Food Security and is a member of the Steering Committee of Desertnet International.

Research Interests

Environmental and land use change (including social, political and economic dimensions); land degradation and desertification; participatory processes; livelihood dynamics; environmental governance.

PhD student supervision:

Lindsay is currently supervising/co-supervising the following PhD students:

  • Ms Jen Dyer Assessing the impacts of biodiesel crop Jatropha curcas on livelihoods in rural Malawi (Co-supervised with Prof Andy Dougill; funded by an ESRC-CASE studentship)
  • Ms Cecilia De Ita The sustainability impacts of coastal tourism developments in Mexico (Co-supervised with Dr Keith Hamer; funded by Conacyt)
  • Ms Despina Psarra - When and how do participatory environmental research and governance projects work? (Co-supervised with Prof. Mike Kirkby; funded by the University of Leeds)
  • Mr Nicola Favretto - Jatropha curcas energy crop cultivation: policy and livelihood implications in Mali. (Co-supervised with Prof Andy Dougill; funded by a University of Leeds Overseas Research Scholarship)
  • Ms Jami Dixon - A holistic approach to crop and climate prediction to enhance adaptation policy and practice (Co-supervised with Dr Andy Challinor; funded by an ESRC-NERC studentship)
  • Mr David Glew - Validating the sustainability of biorenewable replacements for petrochemical products (Co-supervised with Prof Simon McQueen-Mason, University of York; funded by a White Rose studentship)
  • Mr Jose Octavio Velazquez Gomar - Institutional interactions among biodiversity-related conventions: How interplay management can improve global environmental governance (Co-supervised with Prof Jouni Paavola)
  • Mr Philip Antwi-Agyei Vulnerability to climate change in food systems (Co-supervised with Dr Evan Fraser and Prof Andy Dougill)

Lindsay would be interested in supervising PhD students with an interest in any of the following themes:

  • Adaptation to environmental (including climate) change;
  • Participatory processes (including a focus on knowledge flows and social learning) in managing natural resources and social-ecological systems;
  • Sustainability and livelihood implications of biofuel cultivation and land use changes;
  • Synergy and multiple benefits in implementing global policies to address environmental change (e.g. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UN Convention on Biodiversity).

Teaching

Lindsay is the Programme Manager for the School of Earth and Environment MRes Sustainability programme. Since October 2008, Lindsay has acted as the external examiner for three MSc courses at the University of Reading.

Publications

  • Thomas, RJ; Akhtar-Schuster, M; Stringer, LC; Marques, MJ; Escadafal, R; Abraham, E; Enne, G (2012) Fertile ground? Options for a science-policy platform for land, Environmental Science and Policy, 16, pp.122-135. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2011.11.002
  • Antwi-Agyei, P; Fraser, EDG; Dougill, AJ; Stringer, LC; Simelton, E (2012) Mapping Food System Vulnerability to Drought Using Rainfall, Yield and Socioeconomic Data for Ghana, Applied Geography, 32, pp.324-334. doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2011.06.010
  • Chasek, P; Essahli, W; Akhtar-Schuster, M; Stringer, LC; Thomas, RJ (2011) Integrated Land degradation monitoring and assessment: Horizontal knowledge management at the national and international levels, Land Degradation and Development, 22, pp.272-284. doi:10.1002/ldr.1096
  • Gomar, JOV; Stringer, LC (2011) Moving towards sustainability? An analysis of CITES’ conservation policies, Journal of Environmental Policy and Governance, 21, pp.240-258. doi:10.1002/eet.577
  • Akhtar-Schuster, M; Thomas, RJ; Stringer, LC; Chasek, P; Seely, MK (2011) Improving the enabling environment to combat land degradation: institutional, financial, legal and science-policy challenges and solutions, Land Degradation and Development, 22, pp.299-312. doi:10.1002/ldr.1058
  • Reed, MS; Buenemann, M; Atlhopheng, J; Akhtar-Schuster, M; Bachmann, F; Bastin, G; Bigas, H; Chanda, R; Dougill, AJ; Essahli, W; Evely, AC; Geeson, N; Fleskens, L; Glass, JH; Hessel, R; Holden, J; Ioris, AAR; Kruger, B; Liniger, HP; Mphinyane, W; Nainggolan, D; Perkins, J; Raymond, CM; Ritsema, CJ; Schwilch, G; Sebego, R; Seely, M; Stringer, LC; Thomas, R; Twomlow, S; Verzandvoort, S (2011) Cross-scale monitoring and assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management: A methodological framework for knowledge management, Land Degradation & Development, 22, pp.161-171. doi:10.1002/ldr.1087
  • Duvenage, I; Taplin, R; Stringer, LC (2011) Appropriate Climate Change Solutions: Towards Sustainable Bioenergy Agro-production in Africa for Energy Equality and Poverty Alleviation, The International Journal of Climate Change Impacts and Responses, 2, pp.101-114.
  • Twyman, C; Fraser, EDG; Stringer, LC; Quinn, C; Dougill, AJ; Ravera, F; Crane, TA; Sallu, SM (2011) Climate Science, Development Practice, and Policy Interactions in Dryland Agroecological Systems, ECOL SOC, 16, . doi:10.5751/ES-04261-160314
  • Whitfield, S; Reed, MS; Thomson, K; Christie, ME; Stringer, LC; Quinn, CH; Anderson, AR; Moxey, A; Hubacek, K (2011) K Managing peatland ecosystem services: current UK policy and future challenges in a changing world, Scottish Geographical Journal, 127, pp.209-230. doi:10.1080/14702541.2011.616864
  • Stringer, LC; Thomas, RJ; Akhtar-Schuster, M (2010) Expand scientific input to address environmental effects, NATURE, 465, pp.869-869. doi:10.1038/465869c
  • Stringer, L; Mkwambisi, D; Dougill, AJ; Dyer, JC (2010) Household and policy adaptations to climate change and desertification: perspectives from Malawi, Climate and Development, pp.145-160. doi:10.3763/cdev.2010.0042
  • Raymond, CM; Fazey, I; Reed, MS; Stringer, L; Robinson, GM; Evely, AC (2010) Integrating local and scientific knowledge for environmental management, Journal of Environmental Management, 91, pp.1766-1777. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.03.023
  • Fazey, I; Gamarra, JGP; Fischer, J; Reed, MS; Stringer, LC; Christie, M (2010) Adaptation strategies for reducing vulnerability to future environmental change, FRONT ECOL ENVIRON, 8, pp.414-422. doi:10.1890/080215
  • Reed, MS; Evely, AC; Cundill, G; Fazey, I; Glass, J; Laing, A; Newig, J; Parrish, B; Prell, C; Raymond, C; Stringer, LC (2010) What is Social Learning? , Ecology and Society, 15, .
  • Sallu, SM; Twyman, C; Stringer, LC (2010) Resilient or vulnerable livelihoods? Assessing livelihood dynamics and trajectories in rural Botswana. , Ecology and Society, 15, .
  • Stringer, L (2009) Reviewing the links between desertification and food insecurity: from parallel challenges to synergistic solutions., Food Security, 1, pp.113-126. doi:10.1007/s12571-009-0016-0
  • Fraser, EDG; Stringer, LC (2009) Explaining agricultural collapse: Macro-forces, micro-crises and the emergence of land use vulnerability in southern Romania, GLOBAL ENVIRON CHANG, 19, pp.45-53. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.11.001
  • Reed, MS; Graves, A; Dandy, N; Posthumus, H; Hubacek, K; Morris, J; Prell, C; Quinn, CH; Stringer, LC (2009) Who's in and why? A typology of stakeholder analysis methods for natural resource management, J ENVIRON MANAGE, 90, pp.1933-1949. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.01.001
  • Stringer, LC; Scrieciu, SS; Reed, MS (2009) Biodiversity, land degradation, and climate change: Participatory planning in Romania, APPL GEOGR, 29, pp.77-90. doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.07.008
  • HUBACEK, K; BEHARRY, N; BONN, A; BURT, T; HOLDEN, J; RAVERA, F; REED, M; STRINGER, L; TARRASÓN, D (2009) Ecosystem services in dynamic and contested landscapes: the case of UK uplands., In: Winter, M; Lobley, M (Ed) What Is Land For?, Earthscan / James & James.
  • Bauer, S; Stringer, L (2009) The role of science in the global governance of desertification , The Journal of Environment and Development, 18, pp.248-267. doi:10.1177/1070496509338405
  • Stringer, L; Dyer, J; Reed, MS; Dougill, AJ; Twyman, C; Mkwambisi, D (2009) Adaptations to climate change, drought and desertification: insights to enhance policy in southern Africa , Environmental Science and Policy, 12, pp.748-765. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2009.04.002
  • Foxon, TJ; Reed, MS; Stringer, LC (2009) Governing long-term socio-ecological change: What can resilience and transitions approaches learn from each other?, Environmental Policy and Governance, 19, pp.3-20. doi:10.1002/eet.496
  • Reed, MS; Bonn, A; Slee, W; Beharry-Borg, N; Birch, J; Brown, I; Burt, TP; Chapman, D; Chapman, PJ; Clay, G; Cornell, S; Fraser, EDG; Holden, J; Hodgson, J; Hubacek, K; Irvine, B; Jin, N; Kirkby, MJ; Kunin, W; Moore, O; Moseley, D; Prell, C; Quinn, C; Redpath, S; Stagl, S; Stringer, LC; Termansen, M; Thorp, S; Towers, W; Worrall, F (2009) The future of the uplands., Land Use Policy, 26, pp.202-216.
  • Stringer, LC (2009) Testing the orthodoxies of land degradation policy in Swaziland , LAND USE POLICY, 26, pp.157-168. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2008.01.008
  • Stringer, LC (2008) Reviewing the international year of deserts and Desertification 2006: What contribution towards combating global desertification and implementing the united nations convention to combat desertification? , J ARID ENVIRON, 72, pp.2065-2074. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.06.010
  • Stringer, L (2008) Can the UN Convention to Combat Desertification guide sustainable use of the world's soils? , FRONT ECOL ENVIRON, 6, pp.138-144. doi:10.1890/070060
  • Scrieciu, SS; Stringer, LC (2008) The transformation of post-Communist societies in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union: an economic and ecological sustainability perspective, European Environment, 18, pp.168-185. doi:10.1002/eet.480
  • Foxon, T; Stringer, LC; Reed, MS (2008) Approaches to governing long-term social-ecological change: Comparing adaptive management and transition management, Oekologisches Wirtschaften, pp.20-22.
  • Stringer, LC; Twyman, C; Gibbs, LM (2008) Learning from the South: common challenges and solutions for small-scale farming, GEOGR J, 174, pp.235-250.
  • Parish, F; Silvius, M; Reed, MS; Stringer, LC; Joosten, H; Suryadiputra, N; Lin, CK (2007) Management of peatlands for biodiversity and climate change , In: Parish, F; Sirin, A; Charman, D; Joosten, H; Minaeva, T; Silvius, M (Ed) Assessment on peatlands, biodiversity and climate change, Global Environment Centre, Kuala Lumpur & Wetlands International Wageningen, pp.9-1 --9-23.
  • Scrieciu, SS; Stringer, LC (2007) Agriculture, land reform and the environment in post-socialist Romania, Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, 4, pp.43-56.
  • Stringer, LC; Twyman, C; Thomas, DSG (2007) Combating land degradation through participatory means: the case of Swaziland, Ambio, 36, pp.387-393. doi:10.1579/0044-7447(2007)36[387:CLDTPM]2.0.CO;2
  • Stringer, LC (2007) Review of: Governing Global Desertification edited by P. M. Johnson, K. Mayrand and M. Paquin, Journal of Modern African Studies, 45, pp.325-327. doi:10.1017/S0022278X07002595
  • Stringer, LC; Thomas, DSG; Twyman, C (2007) From global politics to local land users: applying the United Nations Convention to combat desertification in Swaziland, The Geographical Journal, 173, pp.129-142. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4959.2007.00226.x
  • Stringer, LC; Reed, MS; Dougill, AJ; Seely, MK; Rokitzki, M (2007) Implementing the UNCCD: Participatory challenges, NAT RESOUR FORUM, 31, pp.198-211.
  • Holden, J; Shotbolt, L; Bonn, A; Burt, TP; Chapman, PJ; Dougill, AJ; Fraser, EDG; Hubacek, K; Irvine, B; Kirkby, MJ; Reed, MS; Prell, C; Stagl, S; Stringer, LC; Turner, A; Worrall, F (2007) Environmental change in moorland landscapes, EARTH-SCI REV, 82, pp.75-100. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.01.003
  • Stringer, LC; Reed, MS (2007) Land degradation assessment in southern Africa: Integrating local and scientific knowledge bases, LAND DEGRAD DEV, 18, pp.99-116. doi:10.1002/ldr.760
  • Reed, MS; Stringer, LC (2007) Unravelling desertification: Policies and actor networks in Southern Europe, J RURAL STUD, 23, pp.491-492. doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2006.11.005
  • Stringer, LC; Twyman, C; Thomas, DSG (2007) Learning to reduce degradation on Swaziland's arable land: enhancing understandings of Striga asiatica, Land Degradation and Development, 18, pp.163-177. doi:10.1002/ldr.768
  • Dougill, AJ; Fraser, EDG; Holden, J; Hubacek, K; Prell, C; Reed, MS; Stagl, S; Stringer, LC (2006) Learning from doing participatory rural research: Lessons from the Peak District National Park , J AGR ECON, 57, pp.259-275.
  • Stringer, LC; Dougill, AJ; Fraser, E; Hubacek, K; Prell, C; Reed, MS (2006) Unpacking "participation" in the adaptive management of social ecological systems: A critical review, ECOL SOC, 11, .
  • Stringer, LC (2006) The UN Convention to Combat Desertification ,.
  • Richardson, T; Stringer, LC; Meth, P (2005) Everyday life and Spatial Governance,Research Papers in Town and Regional Planning: TRP 147 , University of Sheffield Department of Town and Regional Planning, pp.1-52.