Jeffrey R. Vincent

Jeffrey R. Vincent is the Korstian Distinguished Professor in Forest Economics and Management at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, with a joint appointment as Professor of Public Policy Studies. He is also an Affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development. Vincent holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1988) and an M.S. from Michigan State University (1984). His career spans academic research, teaching, and leadership of international policy projects.

Vincent's research focuses on forest policy economics in developing economies, emphasizing forest restoration in Asia. His work integrates climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem service valuation, with recent studies examining cost-effective reforestation and tropical land-use dynamics. Major themes include:

• Economics of forest restoration and degradation
• Climate-agriculture interactions
• Valuation of ecosystem services
• Environmental policy design in Southeast Asia

Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on quantifying restoration outcomes and refining conservation economics methodologies, with empirical work across Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Colombia.

Awards & Fellowships:

• McKinsey Award for Harvard Business Review article (2003)
• Cozzarelli Prize for PNAS publication (2006)
• Fellow: Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics (Sweden)
• Fellow: South Asian Network of Development Economists (Nepal)

Research Grants & Initiatives:

• Research and Development of Global Applications of Forest Restoration Potential Using SEPAL (2023-2024)
• Consequences of Changing Mangrove Forests in South Asia (2017-2021)
• Annual Duke Summit on Innovation for Tropical Conservation (2016-2017)
• Duke Conservation Economics Initiative (2014-2015)

As Co-Editor-in-Chief of Environment and Development Economics, Vincent shapes discourse on sustainability policy. He teaches graduate courses including Resource & Environmental Economics, Economic Valuation, and Forest Resource Economics.