Sarah Castle

I am an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist focused on nature-based climate solutions and understanding the social-ecological dynamics that shape the success of conservation and development actions. My research focuses on forests and agroforestry systems to advance knowledge of their contributions to climate change, sustainable livelihoods, and conservation. 

My research projects have included synthesizing literature on the impacts of agroforestry policies and practices and conducting holistic assessments of the potential to expand agroforestry in the US Midwest using geospatial analysis, modeling, and qualitative data. My research currently focuses on integrating remotely sensed data into forest policy evaluation. I use large-scale geospatial data to investigate the relationships between human developmentForests and forest cover change, and conservation policies to inform policy decisions that can benefit people and the environment.