Meet Seongmin Shin, a Ph.D. candidate in Development Studies at Cornell University with a deep commitment to environmental sustainability at the nexus of climate change, the carbon market, and agroforestry. Recently recognized with the IUFRO Student Award for Excellence in Forest Science, his research seeks to enhance smallholder farmers’ access to voluntary carbon markets through agroforestry practices and the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes. This summer, Seongmin worked with local farmers in Eastern and Northern Uganda to understand their perspectives on carbon projects and small-scale agroforestry initiatives. Seongmin sat down with us to tell us more about his fieldwork and his mission to integrate sustainability science and business strategies to combat climate change.
First things first, tell us about your research. What are the big challenges that drive your curiosity in the field of Development Studies?
My research is centered on improving direct benefits and accessibility for farmers, addressing critical issues of justice and inequality. A major challenge I've identified is that smallholder farmers, despite being key stakeholders, are often marginalized and excluded from the benefits of the carbon market due to a lack of transparency and technical capacity. Through my research, I aim to explore small-scale agroforestry practices that can help bridge the gap between farmers and the carbon market.
Your research recently took you to Uganda for fieldwork. Tell us about it!
This summer, I had the chance to visit Uganda to meet local farmers and understand their perspectives on carbon projects. I traveled to three rural villages in Eastern and Northern Uganda. Although the villagers were incredibly welcoming, I realized that beneath the surface, they face significant hardships—many live on less than $1 a day and are particularly vulnerable during the dry season due to climate change. Over the course of my trip, I conducted more than 40 interviews with farmers, NGOs, cooperatives, and international organizations. I also organized focus group discussions and administered over 300 surveys.
What research methods are you using in this work?
I employed semi-structured interviews to capture the perceptions, experiences, and challenges of various stakeholders involved in carbon projects. For the survey component, I used the Double-bounded Dichotomous Contingent (DBDC) valuation method to assess farmers’ willingness to participate in carbon projects. The qualitative and quantitative insights gathered from these interactions have highlighted key challenges and potential opportunities for advancing small-scale agroforestry initiatives.
