E (Wangari) Waruingi

My research interests include natural resource management (NRM), and interactions between climate change, people and sustainability. I have a background in agricultural and applied economics with a focus in environmental economics narrowing down to forest ecosystems. I have experience in the use of various econometric approaches in impact evaluation and is also knowledgeable in valuation of ecosystem services through contingent valuation. I love the aspect of exploring the interaction of people and nature, since, nature cannot thrive on its own. 

I hold a MSc in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Jomo Kenyatta  University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) where I assessed participation of forest dependent households in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and the associated welfare effects. Prior to joining Wageningen University and Research, I worked with World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) on landscape restoration and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI-Nairobi) on interventions for livelihood improvement.

I am currently a PhD with the Forest Ecology and Forest Management and Forest and Nature Conservation Policy groups. My focus is on Natural Regeneration as a landscape restoration pathway in Africa, with a focus in Kenya under the ERC-Regreening Africa with natural regeneration — Research@WUR project. I explore the drivers (social, economic, ecological and institutional) of  farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) and assess the benefits and the tradeoffs associated with adopting FMNR.