Impact evaluations in environmental sector
Abstract
Forests are vital to sustainable development.[1] Despite their importance high quality evidence in this area remains sparse. An important component in decision making about forests and related sectors is understanding the evidence on what works, why, when, under what circumstances and for whom. Surveying existing rigorous evidence on the causal links between conservation and livelihoods interventions, such as community management of forests, payments for ecosystem services, protected areas and welfare outcomes of interest, is critical to assess programme focus and trade-offs[2].
Dr. Puri along with her co-authors from the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) have populated an interactive tool that illustrates the need and presence of evidence in the area of forest conservation. This tool, an Evidence Gap Map synthesizes and illustrates and synthesizes evidence in the forest conservation sector in the low middle income countries. The presentation will present an overview of what we know and don’t about effective forest conservation interventions. It will also identify key gaps where little or no evidence from impact evaluations is available and inform a strategic approach to build the evidence base in the forestry sector. The presentation will focus on policy relevant findings based on the ecological, environmental and social welfare outcomes corresponding to different interventions targeting forest ecosystems, adaptive capacity, governance, local livelihoods and climate change. A second part of her presentation will focus on the challenges and opportunities that impact evaluations present and discuss ways in which policy makers and practitioners in this area can leverage learning to deliver better and more effectively, for multiple outcomes.