Reem Hajjar, Ph.D.

Banting Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UBC Forestry and Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI)

Ph.D. in Forestry (UBC, Vancouver, Canada 2011)
M.A. in Conservation Biology (Columbia University, New York, USA 2004)
B.Sc. in Biology (McGill University, Montréal, Canada 2000)

Email: reem.hajjar@gmail.com
Phone: +1 (604) 822-9420

 

INTERESTS

My research and teaching interests focus on community-based forest management as a tool for poverty alleviation and promoting sustainable landscapes in developing countries, as seen through a multi-level governance lens. In recent work I have looked at power imbalances, challenges communities face in managing their forests and maintaining forest-based enterprises, bottom-up approaches to community forestry initiatives in Brazil and Mexico, promoting community forestry as part of national REDD+ strategies, and community and smallholder forest certification.

As a Banting postdoctoral research fellow at both UBC and RRI (Washington, DC), my current principle projects include: the role of producer associations in advancing small-scale forestry under REDD+ and FLEGT (Ghana and Mexico); promoting enabling environments for small-scale forestry enterprises (global); assessing levels of acceptability of seed selection strategies for forest adaptation to climate change in rural communities (British Columbia and Alberta); and understanding motivations and challenges in recruiting smallholders and communities to forest certification schemes (global).

Until recently, I also wrote about UN and intergovernmental forestry activities for IISD RS’s knowledge management platforms on climate change and biodiversity. I still occasionally write for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin on international negotiations of multilateral environmental agreements on forests and biodiversity.

For my full CV, click here.

PUBLICATIONS

Articles in refereed journals

Rantala, S, R Hajjar, M Skutsch. 2014.  Multilevel governance for forests and climate change: Learning from southern Mexico.  Forests. 5: 3147-3168.

Hajjar, R. In Press. Advancing small-scale forestry under FLEGT and REDD in Ghana. Forest Policy and Economics.

Hajjar, R, E McGuigan, M Moshofsky, RA Kozak. 2014. Opinions on strategies for forest adaptation to future climate conditions in Western Canada: Surveys of the general public and leaders of forest-dependent communities. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 44(12): 1525-1533.

Sanchez-Badini, O, R Hajjar, RA Kozak. Promoting small and medium forest enterprises in the context of REDD+: A multi-country analysis of enabling environments. Submitted to World Development (December 2014).

Hajjar, R, RA Kozak. Exploring public perceptions of forest adaptation strategies in Western Canada. Submitted to Forest Policy and Economics (September 2014).

Hajjar, R. 2013. Certifying small and community producers in developing countries: Prospects for adoption and diffusion. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods. 22(4): 230-240.

De La Fuente, T, R Hajjar. 2013. Do current forest carbon standards include adequate requirements to ensure indigenous peoples’ rights in REDD projects? International Forestry Review. 15(4): 427-441.

D Alemagi, R Hajjar,  Z Tchoundjeu, RA Kozak. 2013. Cameroon’s Environmental Impact Assessment Decree and public participation in concession-based forestry: A case study of eight forest-dependent communities.  Journal of Sustainable Development. 6(10): 8-24.

Hajjar, R, RA Kozak, H  El-Lakany and JL Innes. 2013. Community forests for forest communities: Integrating community-defined goals and practices in the design of forestry initiatives. Land Use Policy. 34: 158-167.

Wang, G, JL Innes, R Hajjar, X Zhang, J Wang. 2013. Public awareness and perceptions of watershed management in the Min River area, Fujian, China. Society and Natural Resources. 26 (5).

Hajjar, R, RA Kozak and JL Innes. 2012. Is decentralization leading to “real” decision-making power for forest-dependent communities? Case studies from Mexico and Brazil. Ecology and Society. 17 (1): 12. [online] URL:http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol17/iss1/art12/

Alemagi, D, R Hajjar, S David and R Kozak. 2012. Benefits and barriers to certification of community-based forest operations in Cameroon: An exploratory assessment. Small-scale Forestry. 11(4): 417-433.

Hajjar, R, D McGrath, RA Kozak and JL Innes. 2011. Framing community forestry challenges with a broader lens: Case studies from the Brazilian Amazon. Journal of Environmental Management. 92: 2159-2169.

Tomaselli, MF and R Hajjar. 2011. Promoting Community Forestry Enterprises in National REDD+ Strategies: A business approach. Forests. 2(1): 283-300.

Aguilar, S and R Hajjar. 2009. CITES 58th Standing Committee: Implementation decisions and recommendations. Environmental Policy and Law Journal. 39 (4-5): 205-207.

Hajjar, R and JL Innes. 2009. The World Bank’s policy towards forests: push or pull? International Forestry Review. 11 (1): 27-36.

Hajjar, R, D Jarvis and B Gemmill-Herren. 2008. The utility of crop genetic diversity in agricultural landscapes in maintaining ecosystem services. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 123: 261-270.

Hajjar, R and T Hodgkin. 2007. The use of wild relatives for crop improvement: A survey of developments over the past 20 years. Euphytica. 156 (1-2): 1-13.

Book chapters

Hajjar, R, A Molnar. Decentralization and community-based approaches. Accepted. In, Kozak, RA, Hansen, E, Panwar, R (eds.) Forests, Business and Sustainability. Earthscan.

Tomaselli, MF, R Hajjar, J Timko, A Jarjusey, K Camara and RA Kozak. In press. Small forest-based enterprises in the Gambia: Opportunities and challenges.  In, Forests under Pressure: Local Responses to Global issues. IUFRO World, Forests, Environment and Society series, Vienna.

Hajjar, R. 2013. Community Forestry in the Brazilian Amazon: An Examination of Power, Challenges and Goals. In Amazon: Biodiversity Conservation, Economic Development and Human Impact. Nova Publishing, Hauppage, NY. https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=39973

Chasek, P, M Guttierez, and R Hajjar. 2012. What’s in a name? The Challenges of Defining the Issues. Chasek, Pam and Lynn Wagner (eds.) The Roads from Rio: Lessons learned from twenty years of multilateral environmental negotiations. Resources for the Future Press (Earthscan), London.

Wagner, L, R Hajjar and A Appleton. 2012. Global Alliances to Strange Bedfellows: The Ebb and Flow of Negotiating CoalitionsIbid. 

Tomaselli, MF and R Hajjar. 2011. La promoción de las empresas forestales comunitarias en las estrategias nacionales REDD+: Un enfoque empresarial. In E. Petkova et al. (eds) Gobernanza forestal y REDD+: Desafíos para las políticas y mercados en América Latina. CIFOR: Bogor, Indonesia. E-book available at: http://www.cifor.org/nc/online-library/browse/view-publication/publication/3642.html

Davenport, D, J Bulkan, R Hajjar and P Hardcastle. 2011. Forests and Sustainability. In, J. Rayner et al., (eds) Embracing Complexity: Meeting the Challenges of International Forest Governance. International Union of Forest Research Organizations. 

Hodgkin, T and R Hajjar. 2008. Using crop wild relatives for crop improvement: trends and perspectives. p. 535-548. In, N. Maxted, et al. (eds). Crop Wild Relative Conservation and Use. CABI Publishing Series.

Wagner, L, E Morgera, R Hajjar, M Rojo and C Spence. 2007. 2006 Global Overview. In, GEO Yearbook 2007: An Overview of our Changing Environment. UN Environment Programme.

Conference proceedings

Hajjar, R, A Gough, A-H Mathey, C Nitschke, SK Paudel, P Skrivanos, PO Waeber, and JL. Innes. 2009. Criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in the face of decentralization: are they still relevant? Conference Proceedings: XIIIth World Forestry Congress.

Articles in professional or trade journals

Hajjar, R, MF Tomaselli and RA Kozak. 2013. Community Forests in BC: Lessons from Abroad. Silviculture Magazine. http://www.silviculturemagazine.com/articles/summer-2013/community-forests-bc-lessons-abroad

Hajjar, R. 2011. European forest ministers agree to negotiate legally binding agreement on Europe’s forests. Newsletter (September 2011). Commonwealth Forestry Association, London.

Hajjar, R. 2011. Power to the people: Community forestry in Brazil and Mexico. Branchlines (September 2011). UBC Forestry Faculty Newsletter, Vancouver.

Hajjar, R and ME Recio. 2010. REDD+ Update from Bonn. CFA Newsletter (September 2010). Commonwealth Forestry Association, London.

Hajjar, R. 2005. Wild relatives for better crop performance. Geneflow. International Plant Genetics Resources Institute, Rome.

Weekly contributions on international forestry issues to MEA BulletinClimate-L.org and Biodiversity-L.org (2005-2012), publications of the International Institute for Sustainable Development Reporting Services (available at www.iisd.ca).

Papers presented at conferences

Rantala, S*, Hajjar, R, Skutsch, M. 2014. Multi-level governance for legitimate and effective REDD+ in Mexico. Presented at “Sustainable Future for a Changing Climate.” Helsinki, Finland.

Hajjar, R. 2013. Advancing small-scale forestry in Ghana with REDD and FLEGT: Policy windows for real reforms? “New Challenges for Community Forestry: Sharing Scientific Knowledge in a South-North Perspective.” Remscheid, Germany.

Moshofsky, M*, Hajjar R*, and  RA Kozak. 2013. Public perceptions of adaptation in forest management. “Forest Genetics 2013”. Whistler, Canada.

Hajjar, R. 2013. Invited to participate in the third meeting of the IUFRO Task Force on Forest Governance, San Jose, Costa Rica.

 Hajjar, R. 2013. Explaining the emergence of community forestry: Insights from Latin America and Africa. Invited presentation at “Yale/UNITAR Workshop on Rights and Environmental Governance”, New Haven, USA.

Hajjar, R and Angeline Gough*. 2012. FSC certification and smallholders: achievements and challenges. Presented at “Governing Sustainability: Global Standards and Certification Schemes in the Natural Resources Sector”, Munich, Germany.

Hajjar, R*. 2010. Are communities securing legitimate management authority over their forests? Case studies from Brazil and Mexico. XXIII IUFRO World Congress. Seoul, Republic of Korea. [Sub-plenary presentation]

Hajjar, R*, DG McGrath, RA Kozak, and JL Innes. Challenges to community forestry in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. 1st Conference on Forestry and Environmental Sciences in Western Canada. Harrison Hot Springs, Canada. [Presentation]

Hajjar, R*, DG McGrath and JL Innes. 2009. Do community-company partnerships in Amazonian forestry encourage sustainable communities and livelihoods? A case study of government-sponsored settlements in Pará, Brazil. XIII World Forestry Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina. [Poster]

Hajjar, R*, A Gough, A-H Mathey, CNitschke, SK Paudel, P Skrivanos, PO Waeber, and JL Innes. 2009. Criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management in the face of decentralization: are they still relevant? XIIIth World Forestry Congress, Buenos Aires, Argentina. [presentation]

Hodgkin, T* and R Hajjar. 2005. Using crop wild relatives for crop improvement: trends and perspectives. The Conservation and Use of Crop Wild Relatives 2005. Agrigento, Sicily [Invited keynote address]

Upcoming: Hajjar, R. 2014. The evolving role of secondary-level institutions and their continued legitimacy: Community and producer associations under FLEGT and REDD+ in Ghana and Mexico. To be presented at: “XXIV IUFRO World Congress.” Salt Lake City, USA.

Research reports

Hajjar, R and AE Ramon Hidalgo. 2012. FSC Group Manager Global Survey: summary report. Report to the Forest Stewardship Council.

Hajjar, R. 2011. The business case for FSC certification for small and community producers. Report to the Forest Stewardship Council.

Gough, A, R Hajjar, and G Edenshaw. 2010. Community Forestry on Haida Gwaii. Report to the Haida Nation.

Hajjar, R. 2010. Development of appropriate economic and social indicators of sustainable forest management. Final Technical Report to the Forest Sciences Program, Ministry of Forest Resources, British Columbia (Project Y103077).

Hajjar, R and various authors. 2005-2011. Co-authored numerous reports and analyses from meetings of the UN Forum on Forests, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Convention on Biological Diversity and others. Published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development Reporting Services.

Theses

Hajjar, R. 2011. Community forests for forest communities: An examination of power imbalances, challenges and goals in Brazil and Mexico. PhD Dissertation, University of British Columbia.

Hajjar, R. 2004. The World Bank and forests: A shifting paradigm and a strategy for the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. Masters thesis, Columbia University.

Papers in preparation

Rantalla, S, R Hajjar, M Skutsch. Multi-level governance for legitimate and effective REDD+ in Mexico. Target journal: Forests – Special Issue: Governing Forest Landscapes: Challenges and Way Forward (90% complete)

Sanchez, O, R Hajjar, RA Kozak. Promoting small and medium forest enterprises in a REDD+ context: An analysis of enabling environments in 41 countries. Target journal: World Development (90% complete)

Sanchez, O, R Hajjar, RA Kozak. Enabling environments for small and medium forest enterprises: A review. Target journal: Business and Society (50% complete)

Hajjar, R. The role of secondary-level institutions in promoting local forestry in Ghana and Mexico: Adapting to policy and sectoral changes. Target journal: Geoforum  (30% complete)

Hajjar, R. Defining legitimacy in the context of representative associations of forest-based enterprises. Target journal: Forest Policy and Economics (30% complete)

McGuigan, E, R Hajjar, K Jones, M Moshofsky, D Davidson, RA Kozak. Assisted migration for forest adaptation: Public acceptability and policy engagement. Target journal: Environment and Planning C (15% complete)