Closing the knowledge gaps

This chapter is an attempt to clarify the unknowns about building resilience with trees. Many emerged during the write-shop discussions. Some gaps in our individual aware-ness were eliminated as we shared experiences, yet many more were revealed as questions arose. Some of these were technical in nature. Others were economic. One working group prepared a useful list of existing policy gaps. However, to avoid the 'long bullet-list’ syndrome, we have categorized the gaps that were most prevalent, and limited them. The intent is to provide pointers to, and focus for the essential work that needs to be done. We consider this section a ‘work-in-progress’, insofar as we always end up with more questions than answers as we delve into such diverse and rapidly evolving topics as trees – Eastern Africa drylands – and ever-adapting human life-ways. As mentioned, the knowledge gaps are organized into four categories. First comes the knowledge that is required by farmers and development practitioners on the resilience that could be provided by trees. Second the knowledge on who is doing what and where in managing knowledge, or the ‘knowledge management’ gap. Third, the knowledge on policies and institutions that are required to make promising interventions work. And last but not least, the science to provide evidence on resilience that can be provided by trees. It might come as a surprise to place the scientific knowledge gap, but there is a good reason for this. Placing the demand for knowledge first promotes a demand-driven perspective on research.

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