InFER, the Institute of Forest, Environmental, and Natural Resource Policy at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU) is concerned with political science research on institutions, governance processes and instruments in the fields of forest, environmental and natural resource policies.

Research and teaching in the field of forest policy is a traditional focus at InFER. The focus within the EFI-FPRN (The Forest Policy Research Network of the European Forest Institute) is put on European forest policy and governance research, innovation research, and sustainability research in the EFI context.

Regarding environmental and natural resource policies, staff members of InFER address in particular sustainable development, energy and climate policies (mitigation and adaptation), nature conservation and flood risk management. Regarding climate and energy policies, we address in particular the challenges of the transition from fossil to renewable energy sources.

The research staff of InFER is regularly engaged in research-based policy consulting for associations, provincial governments, federal ministries in Austria and other EU Member States, the European Commission, and international organisations.

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