Many interesting and policy relevant questions cannot be addressed adequately by the common data set; it would be asking too much of data collection by the individual studies, and PEN partners have a diversity of interests. Thus thematic groups among the PEN partners will be used to exchange literature, research methodologies and experience. These groups will also form the basis for comparative work.
Currently there are five thematic groups, reflecting the focus of PEN:
- Poverty impacts of deforestation and land use changes (DEF)
- Local forest management (or joint/communal management), forest tenure, decentralization (LFM)
- Markets: local integration and functioning of markets (MAR)
- Payment for forest environmental services, including tourism (PES)
- Livelihoods analysis, incl. forests as safety nets (LIV)
