Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Overview
Johan Oldekop is a Professor of Environment and Development at the Global Development Institute. His work focuses on understanding the kinds of policies, interventions and social processes that lead to better outcomes for people and the environment. Johan's research combines a range of different approaches from the natural and social sciences, including environmental sciences, geographical information systems, political science, and economics.
He currently leads the Sustainable Forest Transitions project and the Observatory for Forests and Just Transitions. He is particularly interested in the use of large-scale public datasets and quantitative causal inference tools to understand synergies and tradeoffs between environmental and development outcomes of natural resource governance regimes.
Johan obtained his PhD at the University of Manchester, and has held research positions in both the UK (Universities of Sheffield and Newcastle) and the US (University of Michigan, and Washington State University). His research has been funded by the European Union, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Ford Foundation. He has conducted commissioned research for international organisations, including USAID and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals including Nature Sustainability, Nature Ecology and Evolution, Nature Plants and Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
He is part of the Forest and Livelihoods: Assessment, Research, and Engagement (FLARE) network and the International Forestry Resources and Institutions network.
For media enquiries regarding Johan's research please contact Chris Jordan.
Opportunities
PhD and Post-Doc Opportunities:
My research group and I are keen to collaborate, and while we currently cannot host any more PhD students, we'd be keen to discuss your ideas for fellowships or other post-doctoral research collaborations.
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Global inequalities
- Sustainable Futures
- Global Development Institute
- Digital Futures
Keywords
- environment
- forestry
- conservation
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Johan Oldekop is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Advancing biodiversity through poverty solutions
Pradhan, N., Ibáñez, I., Chhatre, A., Duddu, A., Fischer, H. W., Newton, P., Oldekop, J. A., Wilson, S. J. & Agrawal, A., 18 May 2026, In: Nature Sustainability.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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A horizon scan of global issues on forests and livelihoods for 2026
Kabutey-Ongor, M., Devenish, K., Hernández-Montilla, M., Alencar, L., Barragan-Contreras, S., Thöner, V. C., Hajjar, R., Hidayat, Y., Kaimowitz, D., Karna, B. K., Khuu, D. T., Krogh, A. C., Larson, A. M., Liehr, E., Mutta, D., Newton, P., Nofyanza, S., Ogden, B., Vidal, M. P. & Pradeep, A. & 5 others, , 1 Apr 2026, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 185, 103738.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Forwarding Forest Restoration: Seven key socio-ecological issues for advancing forest restoration in a world in flux
Hernandez‐Montilla, M., Devenish, K., Alencar, L., Benzeev, R., Choksi, P., Djenontin, I. N. S., Fagan, M. E., Fischer, H., Cubides, P. I., Juvenal, T. L., Kabutey‐Ongor, M., Kamoto, J., Kinzer, A., Kroeker‐Maus, D., Mansourian, S., Melo, F., Miller, D. C., Nofyanza, S., Pradeep, A. & Reiner, F. & 5 others, , 6 Feb 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: People and Nature.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Mapping the rights-implementation gap in Forest Landscape Restoration: evidence from Mexico
Hernandez-Montilla, M., Pritchard, R., Foster, T. & Oldekop, J., 3 Feb 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Restoration Ecology.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Global forest dataset incongruence creates high uncertainties for conservation, climate, and development policy
Castle, S. E., Newton, P., Oldekop, J. A., Baylis, K. & Miller, D. C., 2025, In: One Earth. 101558.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile93 Downloads (Pure)
Projects
- 1 Active
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JEO4C: Just Earth Observation for Conservation
Pritchard, R. (PI), Enns, C. (CoI), Foster, T. (CoI) & Oldekop, J. (CoI)
1/10/23 → 30/09/28
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Internal positions
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CaDiR - GIS, Mapping and Earth Observation (GISMEO) Community
Millin-Chalabi, G. (Chair), Da Conceicao Bispo, P. (Chair), Sherman, D. (Chair), Mao, Q. (Organiser), Harrison, K. (Organiser), Tomlinson, J. (Advisor), Parham, M. (Advisor), Foster, T. (Advisor), Schultz, D. (Advisor), Harris, A. (Advisor), Oldekop, J. (Advisor) & Hughes, A. (Advisor)
1 Jun 2024 → …Activity: Internal positions, CPD, programme/unit design, other peer review and other › Internal positions › Teaching and Research
Impacts
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Conservation activities and biodiversity training in Sumaco National Park, Ecuador
Preziosi, R. (Participant), Bebbington, A. (Participant), Rowntree, J. (Participant), Oldekop, J. (Participant), Zytynska, S. (Participant) & Truelove, N. (Participant)
Impact: Economic impacts, Environmental impacts, Societal impacts, Technological impacts
Press/Media
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India gained 2.1 million hectares of dry woodland in a decade, major study finds
Govindarajulu, D., Foster, T., Pritchard, R. & Oldekop, J.
5/06/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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In Nepal, Out-Migration Is Helping Fuel a Forest Resurgence
20/08/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
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REUTERS: Cut emissions and poverty, not trees, by letting locals manage forests
6/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert comment
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Thesis
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The Conservation of Biodiversity Inside and Outside Protected Areas
Oldekop, J. (Author), 12 Oct 2011Student thesis: Phd
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