Publications

Peer reviewed articles, books, chapters and policy reports.

Scaling nature-based solutions for climate resilient infrastructure

2025

Climate justice and informal trader’s access to urban green spaces

Thorn, J. P. R., Maruza, T. C. G., & Stoffberg, M. (2025). Climate justice and informal trader’s access to urban green spaces. Cities159, 105725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.105725

Impacts of road development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A call for holistic perspectives in research and policy.

Biber-Freudenberger, L., Bogner, C., Bareth, G., Bollig, M., Dannenberg, P., Diez, J. R., Greiner, C., Mtweve, P. J., Klagge, B., Kramm, T., Müller-Mahn, D., Moseti, V., Nyamari, N., Ochuodho, D. O., Kuntashula, E., Theodory, T., Thorn, J. P. R., and Börner, J. (2025). Impacts of road development in Sub-Saharan Africa: A call for holistic perspectives in research and policy. iScience, 111913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.111913

A catalogue of land-based adaptation and mitigation solutions to tackle climate change.

Chiriacò, M. V., Dămătîrcă, C., Abd Alla, S., Barilari, S., Biancardi Aleu, R., Brazzini, T., Capela Lourenço, T., de Carolis Villars, C. A., Durand, S., Di Lallo, G., Encarnação Coelho, R., Espin, O., Ferreras-Alonso, N., Galluccio, G., Ganszky, D., Hellsten, S., Hernández-Moral, G., Ihrfors, J., Keramitsoglou, I., Kiranoudis, C. T., Nemethy, A., Oakes, R., Ortuño Castillo, J., Pastor, A. V., Pérez-Ramirez, P., Ramos-Diez, I., Sismanidis, P., Trozzo, C., & De Notaris, C. (2025). A catalogue of land-based adaptation and mitigation solutions to tackle climate change. Scientific Data, 12, Article 166. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-04484-0

2024

Sea level rise in Europe: Adaptation measures and decision-making principles.

Galluccio, G., Hinkel, J., Fiorini Beckhauser, E., Bisaro, A., Biancardi Aleu, R., Campostrini, P., Casas, M. F., Espin, O., & Vafeidis, A. T. (2024). Sea level rise in Europe: Adaptation measures and decision-making principles. State Planet3(slre1), 6. https://doi.org/10.5194/sp-3-slre1-6-2024

Freeing imagination for fair and resilient future cities.

Comelli, T., Ensor, J., Filippi, E., Hope, M., Marchant, R. A., Pelling, M., Thorn, J. P. R. (2024) Freeing imagination for fair and resilient future cities. Nature Cities. 1: 536-539.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-024-00099-5

Urban Forestry and Urban Greening.

Han, R., Marchant, R. A. and Thorn, J. P. R. Global disparities in wellbeing from green infrastructure cooling services: a systematic review. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 97: 128372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128372

How to transform Africa’s food system

Ogega, O., Korsten, L., Odongo, D. A., Oti-Boateng, P.  Thorn, J. P. R. (2024) How to transform Africa’s food systemNature Communications Earth and Environment 5, 82. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01250-9

Towards more sustainable and inclusive development corridors in Africa.

Juffe-Bignoli, D., Burgess, N., Wijesinghe, A., Thorn, J. P. R., Brown, M., Gannon, K. E., Sang, C. C., Lesutis, G., Lyimo, P., Chilagane, N., Tam, C., Munishi, P., Kashaigili, J. J., Sandbrook, C., Olago, D., Marchant, R., Wariungi, L., Meng. H., Conway, D., Payne, T., van Soesbergen, A., Xu, Y., Wentworth, J., Niazi, A., Hargey, A., Butt, H., Blasi-Foglietti, C., Palmer, R., Bull, J., Runsten, L.  (2024) Towards more sustainable and inclusive development corridors in Africa. Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ad7887

Confronting climate at the water’s edge: Marine and coastal nature-based solutions in Southern Africa.

Sack, H., and Thorn, J. P. R. (2024). Confronting climate at the water’s edge: Marine and coastal nature-based solutions in Southern Africa. In: Leal Filho, W., Nagy, G.J., Ayal, D.Y. (eds) Handbook of Nature-Based Solutions to Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98067-2_157-1

2023

Charting the future of adaptation: Five key takeaways from Adaptation Futures.

Gilmore, E., Olazabal, M., Safra de Campos, R., Thorn, J. P. R., Coughlan de Perez, E., and Harper, S. L. (2024) Charting the future of adaptation: Five key takeaways from Adaptation Futures. 2023. https://latitude.plos.org/2024/01/charting-the-future-of-adaptation-five-key-takeaways-from-adaptation-futures-2023/

The sky islands in eastern Africa: biodiversity and risks.

Marchant, R., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Thorn, J. P. R., Schmitt, C and Gelete, D. C.  (2024). The sky islands in eastern Africa: biodiversity and risks. In Schneiderbauer, S., Pisa, P. F., Shroder, J and Szarzynski, J. (eds.) Safeguarding mountain social-ecological system, a global challenge: Facing emerging risks and adapting to changing environments.  Volume 2 of 2. Elsevier. P. 97-104. ISBN: 978-0-443-32824-4

Stories of social (in)equity in nature-based solutions.

Holden, P.; Hoffman, T.; Djenontin, I.; Esler, K.; Gannon, K.; Humphrey, G.; Mbidzo, M.; Mtati, N.; New, M.; Ndlovu, V.; Razafimanantsoa, A. H. I.; Rebelo, A.; Savory, S.; Thorn, J.P.R.; Visser, M., Ziervogel, G. (2023). Stories of social (in)equity in nature-based solutions. Adaptation Futures conference. Montreal, Canada. https://sites.google.com/view/tesnbsworkshop/stories

‘Kesho’ scenario development for supporting water-energy-food security under uncertain future conditions in Zanzibar.

Newman, R. J. S., Enns, C., Capitani, C., Thorn, J. P. R., Courtney-Mustaphi, C., Buckton, S., Om, S., Fazey, I., Haji, T. A., Nchimbi, A.Y., Kariuki, R., Marchant, R. A. (2024)  ‘Kesho’ scenario development for supporting water-energy-food security under uncertain future conditions in Zanzibar. Land. 13(2)195 https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020195

A people-centred framework for exploring water, energy and food security in a small developing island.

Newman, R. J. S., Thorn, J. P. R., Haji, T. A., Nchimbi, A. Y., Musa, I., Enns, C., and Marchant, R. A., (2023) A people-centred framework for exploring water, energy and food security in a small developing island. Population and Environment. 45: 14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-023-00427-2

The value of researching the past for crafting sustainable African mountain futures.

Marchant, R. and Thorn, J. P. R. (2023) The value of researching the past for crafting sustainable African mountain futures. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2023.2205373

Fostering transdisciplinary research for equitable and sustainable development pathways across Africa: what changes are needed?

Shackleton, S., Taylor, A., Gammage, L., Gilson, L., Sitas, N., Methner, N., Jarre, A., Barmand, A., Thorn, J. P. R., McClure, A., Cobban, L., Jarre, A., Odume, O. N. (2023) Fostering transdisciplinary research for equitable and sustainable development pathways across Africa: what changes are needed? Ecosystems and People. 19:1, https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2022.2164798  

The role of networks in safeguarding mountain futures: Insights from the Mountain Sentinels Collaborative Network.

Klein, J. A., Tucker, C., Roane, T., Nolin, A., Reid, R., Steger, C., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Thorn, J. P. R. (2023) The role of networks in safeguarding mountain futures: Insights from the Mountain Sentinels Collaborative Network. In Schneiderbauer, S., Pisa, P. F., Shroder, J and Szarzynski, J. (eds.) Safeguarding mountain social-ecological system, a global challenge: Facing emerging risks and adapting to changing environments. Volume 1 of 2. Elsevierhttps://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822095-5.00023-1

2022

Appraising the water-energy-food nexus from a sustainable development perspective: A maturing paradigm?

Hejnowicz, A.P., Thorn, J.P.R., Giraudo, M.E., Sallach, B.J., Hartley, S.E., Grugel, J., Pueppke, S., and Emberson, L. (2022) Appraising the water-energy-food nexus from a sustainable development perspective: A maturing paradigm? Earth’s Future. 10(12) https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EF002622

Environmental policy design and implementation: Toward a sustainable society.

Hejnowicz, A. P., and Thorn, J. P. R. (2022) Environmental policy design and implementation: Toward a sustainable society. Sustainability. 14, 3199. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063199

Exploring the benefits and dis-benefits of climate migration as an adaptive strategy along the rural-peri-urban continuum in Namibia.

Thorn J. P. R., Nangolo, P., Biancardi Aleu, R., Marchant, R. A., Shackleton, S., Ajala, O., Delgado, G., Cinderby, S., and Hejnowicz, A. P.  (2022) Exploring the benefits and dis-benefits of climate migration as an adaptive strategy along the rural-peri-urban continuum in Namibia. Regional Environmental Change. 12(10). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-022-01973-5

The African Development Corridors Database: a new tool to assess the impacts of infrastructure investments.

Thorn, J. P. R., Juffe-Bignoli, D., Mwangi, B., Marchant, R. A. (2022) The African Development Corridors Database: a new tool to assess the impacts of infrastructure investments. Nature: Scientific Data. 9:679. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01771-y

Environmental policy design and implementation: towards sustainable society.

Hejnowicz, A. P. and Thorn, J. P. R (2022) Environmental policy design and implementation: towards sustainable society.  ISBN 978-3-0365-5186-9 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/environmental_policy_design_implementation.  210 pp. MDPI.

The African Development Corridors Database.

Thorn, J. P. R., Mwangi, B., Juffe Bignoli, D. (2022) The African Development Corridors Database. https://arcg.is/TynL90   and https://datadryad.org/stash/share/80dKow6W1-fFT1BRFAVHVl8AbiB_SjzVa8-_nlVRBv4 Dataset. Dryad Digital Repository.

Overcoming unequal access to urban green spaces in a post-apartheid city: Challenges and opportunities for nature-based solutions.

Giombini, V., and Thorn, J. P. R. (2022). Overcoming unequal access to urban green spaces in a post-apartheid city: Challenges and opportunities for nature-based solutions. In:  Misiūnė, I., Lukas, E. K., and Daniel, D (eds.). Exploring the multiple values of nature – connecting ecosystems and people across landscapes. Springer Nature. pp 207-219. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-01980-7_17#DOI .

2021

Governance of urban green infrastructure governance in Windhoek, Namibia.

Wijesinghe, A., and Thorn, J. P. R. (2021). Governance of urban green infrastructure governance in Windhoek, Namibia. Sustainability 13(16)8937. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168937

Mitigating the impacts of development corridors on biodiversity: a global review

Juffe-Bignoli, D., Burgess, N., Hobbs, J., Smith, R. J., Tam, C., Thorn, J. P. R., and.,  Bull, J. (2021) Mitigating the impacts of development corridors on biodiversity: a global review. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9, 477. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.683949

Defining pathways towards African Ecological Futures.

Scheren, P., Tyrrell, P., Brehony, P., Allan, J. R., Thorn, J. P. R., Chinho, T., Katerere, Y., Ushie, V. and Worden, J. S. (2021) Defining pathways towards African Ecological Futures. Sustainability. 13 (16): 8894. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168894

Scenario archetypes reveal risks and opportunities for mountain futures.

Thorn, J. P. R., Klein, J. A., Steger, C. E., Hopping, K. A., Capitani, C., Tucker, C. M., Reid, R. S., and Marchant, R. (2021). Scenario archetypes reveal risks and opportunities for mountain futures. Global Environmental Change; 69: 102291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102291

Evidence-based guidance for best practices in environmental transdisciplinary work.

Steger, C. E., Klein, J. A., Reid, R. S., Lavorel, S., Tucker, C.M., Hopping, K.A., Marchant, R., Teel, T., Cuni-Sanchez, A., Dorji, T., Greenwood, G., Huber, R., Kasam, K., Kreuer, D., Nolin, A. W., Russell, A., Sharp, J.L., Šmid-Hribar, M., Thorn, J. P. R., Grant, G., Mahdi, M., and Waiswa, D. (2021) Science with society: Evidence-based guidance for best practices in environmental transdisciplinary work. Global Environmental Change. 68: 102240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102240

Exploring the potential of scenario planning for more effective environmental assessments: Standard Gauge Railway development corridor, Kenya.

Thorn, J. P. R., Hobbs, J., and Marchant, R. A. (2021). Exploring the potential of scenario planning for more effective environmental assessments: Standard Gauge Railway development corridor, Kenya. In: Hobbs, J. and Juffe-Bignoli, D. (eds.) Impact assessment for corridors: from infrastructure to development corridors. Development Corridors Partnership, UNEP-WCMC. Pp 200-222. https://developmentcorridors.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Chapter-12-1.pdf

Lessons Learned from a corridor focused research and capacity-building programme.

Brown, M. R. C., Runsten, L., Juffe Bignoli, D., Wijesinghe, A., Payne, T., Meng, H., Marchant, R., Thorn, J. P. R., Olago, D. O., Sang, C. C., Munishi, P. K. T., Kashaigili, J. J., Waruingi, L., Tam, C., Hobbs, J., and Burgess, N. D. (2021) Lessons Learned from a corridor focused research and capacity-building programme. In: Hobbs, J. and Juffe-Bignoli, D. (eds.) Impact assessment for corridors: from infrastructure to development corridors. Development Corridors Partnership, UNEP-WCMC. https://developmentcorridors.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Chapter-23-1.pdf

2020

A systematic review of participatory scenario planning to envision mountain social-ecological systems futures.

Thorn, J. P. R., Klein, J., Steger, C., Hopping, K., Capitani, C., Tucker, C., Nolin, A., Reid, R., Seidl, R., Chitale, V., and Marchant, R. (2020). A systematic review of participatory scenario planning to envision mountain social-ecological systems futures. Ecology and Society. 25(3):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11608-250306

Indigenous uses of wild and tended plant biodiversity maintain ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes of the Terai Plains of Nepal.

Thorn, J. P. R., Thornton, T. F., Helfgott, A., and Willis., K. J. (2020). Indigenous uses of wild and tended plant biodiversity maintain ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes of the Terai Plains of Nepal. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 16-33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00382-4

A review of the nature of the virus, impacts and implications for preparedness.

Badu, K., Thorn, J. P. R., Goonoo, N., Dukhi, N., Fagbamigbe, A. F., Kulohoma, B. W., Oyebola, K., Abdelsalam, S. I., Doorsamy, W., Awe, O., Sylverken, A. A., Egeru, A., and Gitaka. J. (2020). Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the nature of the virus, impacts and implications for preparedness. African Academy of Sciences Open Res, 3:19. https://doi.org/10.12688/aasopenres.13060.1

Integrating insights from social-ecological interactions into sustainable land use change scenarios for small islands in the Western Indian Ocean.

Newman, R. J. S., Capitani, C., Courtney-Mustaphi, C., Thorn, J. P. R., Kariuki, R., Enns, C. and Marchant, R. (2020). Integrating insights from social-ecological interactions into sustainable land use change scenarios for small islands in the Western Indian Ocean. Sustainability, 12, 1340. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041340

Prospects of scenario planning for Kenya’s protected ecosystems: An example of Mount Marsabit forest.

Ouko, C. A., Mulwa, R., Kibugi, R., Oguge, N., and Thorn, J. P. R. (2020). Prospects of scenario planning for Kenya’s protected ecosystems: An example of Mount Marsabit forest. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2019.10.001

Dryland nature-based solutions for informal settlement schemes in Africa upgrading.

Thorn, J. P. R., Kavonic, J., Hejnowicz, A., Marchant, R., Cinderby, S., Mueller, A., Ajala, O. (2021). Dryland nature-based solutions for informal settlement schemes in Africa upgrading. ICLEI Africa: Cape Town. https://africa.iclei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/nbs-policy-brief-final.pdf

Socially inclusive and innovative policy making for climate resilient urban strategies in Africa.

Thorn, J. P. R., Kavonic, J., Hejnowicz, A., Marchant, R., Cinderby, S., Mueller, A., Ajala, O. (2021). Socially inclusive and innovative policy making for climate resilient urban strategies in Africa. ICLEI Africa: Cape Town. https://africa.iclei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/socially-inclusive-policy-brief-final.pdf

Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas 4th EAI International Conference, InterSol 2020, Nairobi, Kenya.

Thorn, J. P. R., Hejnowicz, A. P., and Gueye, A (eds.). (2020). Innovations and Interdisciplinary Solutions for Underserved Areas 4th EAI International Conference, InterSol 2020, Nairobi, Kenya, March 8-9, Proceedings. Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-51050-3 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51051-0

The role of biodiversity in the maintenance of ecosystem services in human-dominated landscapes: evidence from the Terai Plains of Nepal.

Thorn, J. P. R., Thornton, T., Helfgott, A., and Willis, K. J.  (2020). The role of biodiversity in the maintenance of ecosystem services in human-dominated landscapes: evidence from the Terai Plains of Nepal. Thornton, T. F., and Bhagwat, S. (eds) The Routledge handbook on indigenous and ecological knowledge. Routledge. ISBN: 9780367565442

2019

Adaptation “from below” to species distribution, habitat, and climate-driven changes in agro-ecosystems in the Terai Plains of Nepal.

Thorn, J. P. R. (2019).  Adaptation “from below” to species distribution, habitat, and climate-driven changes in agro-ecosystems in the Terai Plains of Nepal. AMBIO, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01202-0

Catalysing transformations to sustainability in mountain social-ecological systems.

Klein, J., Tucker, C., Nolin, A., Hopping, K., Reid, R., Steger, C., Grêt-Regamey, A., Lavorel, S., Weibel, B., Brunner, S., Müller, B., Yeh, E., Boone, R., Bourgeron, P., Butsic, V., Castellanos, E., Chen, X., Dong, S., Greenwood, G., Keller, M., Marchant, R., Seidl, R., Spies, T., Thorn, J. P. R.  and Yager, K. (2019).  Catalysing transformations to sustainability in mountain social-ecological systems. Earth’s Future, 7, 547-557. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EF001024

An integrated community and ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction in mountain systems.

Klein, J. A., Tucker, C. M., Nolin, A., Reid, R., Thorn, J. P. R., et al. (2019).  An integrated community and ecosystem-based approach to disaster risk reduction in mountain systems. Environmental Science and Policy, 94, 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2018.12.034

Absence of evidence for the conservation outcomes of systematic conservation planning around the globe: A systematic map.

McIntosh, E. J., Chapman, S., Kearney, S. G., Williams, B., Althor, G., Thorn, J. P. R., Pressey, R. L., McKinnon, M. C., and Grenyer, R. (2018). Absence of evidence for the conservation outcomes of systematic conservation planning around the globe: A systematic map. Environmental Evidence, 7, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-018-0134-2

Expert survey data on key challenges, drivers, and ecosystem services across mountains worldwide.

Klein, J. A., Thorn, J. P. R. et al (2019) Expert survey data on key challenges, drivers, and ecosystem services across mountains worldwide. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25675/10217/194492

2018

How just and just how? A systematic review of social equity in conservation research.

Friedman, R., Law, E., Bennett, N., Ives, C., Thorn, J. P. R. and Wilson, K. (2018) How just and just how? A systematic review of social equity in conservation research. Environmental Research Letters, 13, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabcde

What evidence exists for the effectiveness of on-farm conservation land management strategies for preserving ecosystem services in developing countries?

Thorn, J. P. R., Friedmann, R., Benz, D., Willis, K. J. and Petrokofsky, G. (2016). What evidence exists for the effectiveness of on-farm conservation land management strategies for preserving ecosystem services in developing countries? A systematic map. Environmental Evidence, 5, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-016-0064-9

Estimation of forest cover change, its uncertainty and influence on GHG emissions and emission reductions in the Atiala Atsinanana Emission Reduction Program, Madagascar.

Espejo Minan, A., Andriamanalina, R.L. and Razafipahatelo, D. (2018) Estimation of forest cover change, its uncertainty and influence on GHG emissions and emission reductions in the Atiala Atsinanana Emission Reduction Program, Madagascar. In AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts (GC44A-01) December.

Pre-2018

Online interactive meta-analysis mapping tool: Systematic map of ecosystem services and on-farm conservation practices.

Thorn, J. P. R. and Bens, D. (2016) Online interactive meta-analysis mapping tool: Systematic map of ecosystem services and on-farm conservation practices. Dataset. https://oxlel.zoo.ox.ac.uk/resources/ecosystem-services-onfarm-conservation-map.

How effective are on-farm conservation land management strategies for preserving ecosystem services in developing countries?

Thorn, J. P. R., Snaddon, J., Kok, K., Waldron, A., Zhou, W., Bhagwat, S., Willis, K. J., and Petrokofsky, G., (2015). How effective are on-farm conservation land management strategies for preserving ecosystem services in developing countries? A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence, 4, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-015-0036-5

Autonomous adaptation to global environmental change in peri-urban settlements: Evidence of a growing culture of innovation and revitalisation in Mathare Valley Slums, Nairobi.

Thorn, J. P. R., Thornton, T. F and Helfgott, A. (2015). Autonomous adaptation to global environmental change in peri-urban settlements: Evidence of a growing culture of innovation and revitalisation in Mathare Valley Slums, NairobiGlobal Environmental Change, 31, 121-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.12.009

Automatic floods detection with a kernel k-means approach

Razafipahatelo, D., Rakotoniaina, S. and Rakotondraompiana, S. (2014), Automatic floods detection with a kernel k-means approach. In 2014 IEEE Canada International Humanitarian Technology Conference-(IHTC) (pp. 1-4). June. IEEE. DOI: 10.1109/IHTC.2014.7147515

A politics of land occupation: A perspective on state practice and everyday mobilisation in Zille Raine Heights, Cape Town.

Thorn, J. P. R. and Oldfield. S. (2012). A politics of land occupation: A perspective on state practice and everyday mobilisation in Zille Raine Heights, Cape Town. Journal of African Studies, 46, 518-530. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909611403710