And each year millions of people – especially men and youth – migrate within their country or abroad in search of better work, education, health care or security. Remittances sent home by migrant workers are transforming the economies of some countries, and although conflicts can arise as different populations mix, migration can also create new networks as knowledge and skills are shared.

Not enough is known about the impact these changes have on rural communities and their landscapes. As population dynamics shift, so may social norms and land management practices. Remittance flows and new networks can affect how people earn a living, their incentives to manage and conserve forests and trees, their expenditure patterns, and the impact of various forest management practices on different social groups. Yet forestry research and forest policy have largely ignored the ways migration, mobility, and remittance and knowledge flows affect land-use decisions.

With key partners, CIFOR scientists are working to improve our understanding of migration in various countries to improve the equity and effectiveness of forest management projects and policies. Research is underway in Peru, Indonesia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Laos, and Vietnam – all countries where both forests and migration are important features.