Tor-Gunnar Vågen

Head of Spatial Data Science and Applied Learning Lab (Spacial)

tgvagen

Description

Tor-Gunnar Vågen has a varied background in soil science, hydrology, landscape ecology, statistical modelling, and remote sensing (earth observation). Dr. Vågen developed the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) in the Sahel and has applied it to projects in 45 tropical countries. He leads research to establish global data-driven networks of sites for comparative ecosystem health assessments, linking earth observation data and models to biophysical and socio-economic variables to understand drivers of deforestation, land use change, and land degradation in the tropics. His research also focuses on land restoration, landscape resilience, and earth observation-based spatially explicit modelling of soil and biomass carbon sequestration potential.

GLOBAL LANDSCAPES FORUM (GLF)

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement. The Forum takes a holistic approach to create sustainable landscapes that are productive, prosperous, equitable and resilient and considers five cohesive themes of food and livelihoods, landscape restoration, rights, finance and measuring progress. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank and Charter Members. Charter members: CIAT, CIFOR-ICRAF, CIRAD, Climate Focus, Conservation International, Crop Trust, Ecoagriculture Partners, The European Forest Institute, Evergreen Agriculture, FAO, FSC, GEF, GIZ, ICIMOD, IFOAM - Organics International, The International Livestock Research Institute, INBAR, IPMG, IUFRO, Rainforest Alliance, Rare, Rights and Resources Initiative, SAN, TMG-Think Tank for Sustainability, UNCCD, UNEP, Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation part of Wageningen Research, World Farmer Organization, World Agroforestry, World Bank Group, World Resources Institute, WWF International, Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL)