Karen Kainer
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Assistant Professor, Forest Resources & Conservation/Latin American Studies |
Research Interests
Tropical forest ecology, community forestry management, tropical conservation and development
Geographic Expertise
Western Amazon
Curriculum Vitae 
Courses
LAS 6290/FOR 6934 Community Forest Management
FOR 2662 Forests for the Future
Background
Kainer has a joint appointment with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the Tropical Conservation and Development Program. Kainer initiated her work in Latin America as a forest extensionist with the U.S. Peace Corps in Paraguay, and since, has also worked in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Her research focuses on ecological studies to support community forestry options that encourage a shift from unplanned exploitation of tropical forests (the norm) to deliberate management for greater economic returns and minimal ecological impacts. She has received research grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, The Inter-American Foundation, the American Association of University Women, and the New York Botanical Garden. Results of Kainer’s research can be found in Science, Society and Natural Resources, Ecological Applications, Forest Ecology and Management, and Seed Science and Technology. Kainer previously served as graduate faculty of a multidisciplinary sustainable systems program at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania (1997-2000). She received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida's School of Forest Resources and Conservation, specializing in tropical forest ecology.