IUFRO WORLD CONGRESS 2005
Regional Research Organizations Meeting
CATIE: Strategies to increase the impact
of forestry and agroforestry research
Dr. Glenn Galloway
Director Education Program
Dean of the Graduate School
CATIE
August 2005
Brisbane, Australia
Topics covered
 A glance at CATIE
 Strategies to increase the impact of forestry and
agroforestry research
 Final comments
CATIE and its work in forestry and
agroforestry research
 Regional center with 13 member countries,
established in 1942 (first IICA then CATIE)
 Studies on tropical forests commenced soon
after
 Work in agroforestry, tropical forest management
and forest plantations increased dramatically in
the early ´80s
 A number of strategies and approaches to
improve the effectiveness of its research
initiatives will be discussed
Regular Members
2003
2004
1- Belize
2- Bolivia
3- Colombia
4- Costa Rica
5- Dominican Republic
6- El Salvador
7- Guatemala
8- Honduras
9- Mexico
10- Nicaragua
11- Panama
12- Paraguay
13- Venezuela
14- IICA
Collaborative research
(networking)
 Early initiatives were carried out with national
forest services in Central America
 Counterpart relationships favored the
participation of national technical staff in the
adoption of research methodologies and results
 Relationships were expanded to include a wide
host of organizations, including small and
medium producers, community and indigenous
groups
Collaborative research
(networking)
 Has favored the gradual standardization of
research and operational methodologies
 Skilled scientists can provide technical
and methodological support to a host of
countries and organizations through
networking and collaborative research
Obvious role of regional centers
Creation of thematic groups
 “Thematic Groups” address specific, priority
areas of research. Examples in forestry and
agroforestry:
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Forests, Protected Areas and Biodiversity
Socio-economics of Environmental Goods and
Services
Global Change
Center for Competitiveness of Eco-Enterprises
Integrated Watershed Management
Livestock and Environmental Management
(including silvopastoral systems)
Thematic groups
 Other examples:
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Coffee: Quality, Profitability and Diversification
Management and Sustainable Use of Plant
Genetic Resources
Modernization and Competitiveness of Latin
American Cacao Plantations
A team of specialist is formed within each
thematic group
Thematic groups
 Each TG responsible for developing a
program; research, outreach and higher
education
 Cooperation is encouraged among TG to
foster innovation and interdisciplinary
research
 Results to date: encouraging overall
Integration of research, outreach
and higher education
 Integration a major strength of CATIE
 Oldest graduate program in tropical agriculture
and management natural resources and
environment in LA
 Students carry-out much of CATIE´s research
with support from scientific staff and academics
from other centers in and outside the Region
 Since 1996, CATIE has implemented a doctoral
program with joint degree options with U. of
Idaho and U. of Wales
Important role of thesis
research
 CATIE implements a considerable number of
research and TA projects in the Region in
collaboration with a wide host of partners
 Frequent opportunities for thesis research on
biophysical, social, economic and technological
aspects
 Results feedback into the project and other
initiatives in the Region (strategic research)
 Thesis research also enriches the graduate
program
Important role of thesis
research
 Provides opportunities for cooperation with
external academic-researchers
 2 year period, over 100 external professors
served on CATIE academic committees
 Enriching in both directions
 Some projects earmark funds to return results to
local actors
Research in operational
management areas (OMA)
 Strategic considerations in R&D
initiatives:
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Build on ongoing processes
Have the flexibility to adapt to local social,
cultural and institutional realities
Forge strong links between operational
activities and research
Collaborate with other institutions with
similar interests and objectives
(networking, for example)
Research in operational
management areas (OMA)
 In OMA direct collaboration with local
communities and producer groups is
pursued: Requires a multidisciplinary
approach
 Productive cooperation with multiple
stakeholders fosters the creation of a
“school of thought”, (for example, in the
diversified management of tropical
forests)
Model Forest Initiative (IDRC)
 CATIE now serves as Regional
Headquarters for the MFI
 Reventazon Watershed of Costa Rica is a
recent addition (CATIE is located in this
watershed)
 MFI takes the OMA concept to a broader
context
CATIE as a hub for international
research organizations
 Organizations with out-posted staff (CIRAD and
Purdue, for example)
 Joint doctoral programs (U. of Wales; U. of Idaho)
 Cooperation with CIFOR, the World Bank and
others in a number of innovative research
initiatives
 Future: perhaps IUFRO´s Latin American
Headquarters
Enhances capacity to contribute to research needs
in the Region
Diffusion and dissemination of
research results
 Perennial challenge to most research programs
 Often deficient utilization of research results
 CATIE: field days, TA, training materials,
textbooks, CATIE periodicals (Recursos Naturales
y Ambiente and Agroforestería en las Américas),
policy briefs and regional library services
Annual National Forestry and Agroforestry
Research Workshops (´90s) in six countries
The challenge of research
continuity
 Our partners have often provided
continuity when CATIE funding has
terminated, but…
 …some excellent researchers have had to
leave CATIE for lack of funding
Important role of endowed
chairs for research continuity
 Ecology of Tropical Forests and
Diversified Management of Tropical
Forests
 Facilitate the formation of permanent,
experienced groups to develop research
and development projects – long-term
research
 Permit the creation and maintenance of a
wide network of associates
Final comments
 An organization like CATIE needs to be a
learning organization…
…with the willingness and capacity to
change and adapt
 Much research CATIE does now is quite
different from that carried out in the not
too distant past
As a regional center, CATIE must be prepared
to respond to new research priorities that fall
within its mandate, in conjunction with our
national and international partners
Thank you