News

New grants awarded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development (FORMAS) will, respectively, expand current research examining the impacts of climate change on the wellbeing of cacao-dependent households in West Africa; and whether conservations policies have reduced degradation of Argentina's Atlantic forests. The projects are coordinated by Dr. Aguilar. In West Africa we work in close cooperation with colleagues at the Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of Ghana, Liberian Central Agricultural Research Institute, World Agroforestry Center, Forest Research Institute of Ghana and the Foundation for Good Governance and Democratic Initiatives. In Argentina we work with the University of Misiones, University of Buenos Aires, and colleagues at Auburn University and the US Census Bureau in the US.

The Swedish Research Council awarded funding to the project "Gender equality and climate resilience of West African cacao-dependent households". The project is coordinated by Dr. Aguilar in close cooperation with Dr. Mavis Akuffobea-Essilfie (Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of Ghana), Mr. Charles King Jr., (Liberian Central Agricultural Research Institute), Dr. Christophe Kouame (Senior Scientist, World Agroforestry Center), Dr. Elizabeth Obeng (Forest Research Institute of Ghana), and Mrs. Julie T.B. Weah (formerly with the Foundation for Community Initiatives). The purpose of our research is to assess whether improvements in gender equality conditions support enhanced climate resilience of cacao farming-dependent households.

On 22 December 2022, RFF welcomed new University Fellows Francisco Aguilar, Åsa Löfgren, and Eric Tate. They join Resources for the Future’s esteemed network of academics located at universities. More details are available online.

On 5 May 2022, Dr. Aguilar was elected as Leader of the Team of Specialists on Forest Products and Wood Energy Statistics of the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe.

Dr. Aguilar offered a presentation during the Plenary Session at the World Forestry Congress in Seoul (2-6 May 2022). He stressed the value of wood-based energy in advancing SDG 7 (energy) under the right conditions. He urged decision makers to fully engage local communities that rely on wood energy on board to craft sustainability strategies.

Forest economics can pave the way for more sustainable futures. Dr. Aguilar and SLU Global engaged in a dialogue discussing how the application of forest economics principles and assessments can help advance sustainability initiatives as part of activities during the International Day of Forests.

There’s a Booming Business in America’s Forests. Some Aren’t Happy About It. Reporting by the New York Times covered different views regarding the use of wood pellets sourced in the US to help meet national targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive. A recent peer-reviewed publication by Aguilar and others points to no net declines in carbon pools within industrial procurement areas but also notes: Even if the Southeast’s forest carbon is increasing, “it doesn’t mean everyone is off the hook”

"More than money"? Dr. Aguilar discusses the vital role of forest economics as a tool to better understand the complexity of sustainability during his Professorial inauguration on 29 April 2021. The lecture is available online.

On 16 February 2021, RFF's Daniel Raimi discusses with Dr. Aguilar a recent study he coauthored that looks at how the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive has helped shape the health of forests across the southeastern United States on Resources Radio.

At the Forestry Economics and Policy Summit” on 8-10 December 2019 hosted by Beijing Forestry University, Dr. Aguilar stressed the importance of social capital in the form of institutions to support smallholder farming resiliency. The event included forest economists from America, Asia and Europe.

Worth Knowing: Can money and management reduce tropical forest degradation? Dr. Aguilar presents here research examining whether conservation programs in Ecuador are associated with lower evidence of degradation and what would be needed to enhance program effectiveness.

Dr. Aguilar participated in the panel titled 'The role of forest management in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals' during 76th Session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry held in Vancouver (5-9 November, 2018). He discussed the role that wood energy can play in meeting Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

Press Release: Wood energy is no sleeping giant, say UNECE/FAO experts

The study 'Wood Energy in the ECE region' sheds light on the current situation of wood energy, types of wood fuels used, major sources and users, public policy instruments that support (and hinder) its use, and how to sustainably source wood. Moreover, it provides an outlook on how current social, economic and political trends and developments to the use of wood for energy and its sustainable production.

Forest conservation can have greater ecological impacts by allowing sustainable harvesting: Forest owners at greater risk of causing deforestation are more likely to participate in conservation programs when controlled harvesting is allowed, research shows.

Dr. Aguilar is the Principal Investigator on a grant awarded by the US Department of Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment program to conduct research on forest-based renewable energy.

Dr. Francisco Aguilar was presented with the 2017 Brady J. Deaton Fellow in International Agriculture Award and the 2017 MU International Engagement Award for Outstanding Faculty Contribution.

Dr. Francisco Aguilar was the featured speaker at the International Day of Forests celebrated at the Palais des Nations. The event, organized by the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, discussed the opportunities and risks associated with wood energy.

The manuscript 'Meta-Analysis of Consumer's Willingness-to-Pay Premiums for Certified Wood Products' by Drs. Zhen Cai and Francisco Aguilar is recognized as one of the 5 most highly cited papers published in Journal of Forest Economics.

Work led by the MU Forest Resource Economics and Policy group in cooperation US and West African colleagues is highlighted by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in the post "Research in Energy Security Helps Lead to Food Security in West Africa"

The report "Environmental Implications of Increased Reliance of the EU on Biomass from the South East US" has been published by the European Commission. The report, lead by COWI, in cooperation with the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and the Forest Resource Economics and Policy program is now available here.

Research conducted by Yeo Fellowship recipient and current Ph.D. student Elizabeth Obeng and Dr. Aguilar is highlighted in a recent Washington Post article titled "What the heck is shade-grown cacao? This pricey treat is actually good for the planet", part of the Post Speaking of Science Series