Adrian joined ODI in March 2001, and has been developing a number of research areas on environmental governance: he is currently involved in projects on forest law enforcement, and on the links between forests, poverty and decentralisation.

Adrian has a background in law and geography, and a Masters in International Environmental Law and IPRs. Before joining ODI, Adrian worked with the Conventions and Policy Section at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, providing policy advice on implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This included work on national biodiversity strategies, as well as on law and policy governing the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources.

BA Hons (Geography), CPE (Law), LLM (International environment , trade and IPR law). Adrian has a working knowledge of Indonesian and Spanish.

Jump to: | Opinion Papers | Briefing Papers | Background Notes | Others | Current Projects | Completed Projects

Opinion Papers
Illegal logging: who gains from tighter controls? ODI Opinion 26
There is increasing recognition that the conservation and sustainable management of forests depend on a consensus in society over the rules and regulations under which forest goods are processed. However, despite the widespread promotion of forest management plans, timber harvest controls and traditional law enforcement, illegality within the sector remains widespread.
Adrian Wells and David Brown		July 2004
Briefing Papers and Natural Resource Perspectives
Public Goods and Private Rights: the Illegal Logging Debate and the Rights of the Poor ODI Forestry Briefing 9
This briefing paper applies a rights perspective to understanding legal and institutional reform of the tropical forest sector. The sector is characterised by strongly competing interests, and massive differences in the power of stakeholders to influence the application of the law. The regulatory regime governing the sector often discriminates against the poor. This is of particular concern in the context of donor- and industry-led initiatives to combat illegal logging. Upholding legal frameworks which already fail to accommodate local rights could compound injustices. A rights perspective focuses attention on the channels by which the poor can contest and uphold their claims in the face of national and international interests in the forest sector.
David Brown, Adrian Wells, Cecilia Luttrell and Neil Bird		February 2006
Negotiating Partnerships for Governance Reform: the Draft Code of Conduct for Forest Sector Development Cooperation ODI Forestry Briefing 2
This paper reviews experience with the 2001 Draft Code of Conduct for Forest Sector Development Cooperation. The Code aims to help donors engage more effectively with the institutional and policy contexts affecting forests, and to shift the governance agenda from conditionality to positive incentives for change.
Adrian Wells, Kate Schreckenberg, Tomi Tuomasjukka, Bernd-Markus Liss, Andy Roby and Tapani Oksanen		July 2002
Forestry as an Entry Point for Governance Reform ODI Forestry Briefing 1
Tropical forestry provides a useful entry point for governance programmes. The very factors which make it a challenging sector for development assistance commend it also as a crucible for governance reform: its inclusive focus, linking the global to the national and local; the high levels of income and other benefits which it generates; its local fiscal base; the centrality of issues of tenure and collective rights; and its importance in rural livelihoods, all reinforce the linkages between good governance, public accountability and poverty alleviation. Ensuring that the forest sector fulfils this brief is a major challenge not just to host country governments but also to the donor community.
David Brown, Gill Shepherd, Kate Schreckenberg and Adrian Wells		April 2002
Background Notes
Systems for Verification of Legality in the Forest Sector, Malaysia VERIFOR Country Case Study 8
A country case study from the VERIFOR Project: Institutional Options for Forest Verification
Adrian Wells		2006
Human Rights and Poverty Reduction. Public goods and private rights: The illegal logging debate and the rights of the poor Rights in Action Background Paper
Public goods and private rights: The illegal logging debate and the rights of the poor
David Brown, Adrian Wells, Cecilia Luttrell and Neil Bird		March 2005
Others
Papua New Guinea Forest Studies Reports
History of the Forestry Sector Examines the development of the forest sector from Independence (in 1975) to the present. It explores the way the sector has evolved, and identifies a tension between the customary ownership of forests and the State's view of forests as a national resource. The current legal and institutional framework of the sector Reviews the current legal and institutional framework governing the administration of the forest sector in Papua New Guinea. From the evidence examined, the review concludes that the main requirements for reform at this stage concern fulfilment by the state of its responsibilities. Issues and opportunities for the Forestry Sector Looks at the economic case for forestry in Papua New Guinea. In broad societal terms the importance of the sector lies in its development potential of bringing incomes, jobs, infrastructure and services to remote rural areas.
Neil Bird, Adrian Wells, Flip van Helden, Ruth Turia		January 2007
Costs of illegality and constraints to legality in Central America: a diagnostic analysis of illegal logging in Honduras and Nicaragua Publication
This is an output from the project 'Illegal Logging in Central America: Tackling its Impacts on Governance and Poverty'.
Adrian Wells, Michael Richards, Filippo del Gatto, Arnoldo Contreras-Hermosilla and Denis Pommier		2004
2nd EC Report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Report
Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development.
Adrian Wells		2002
EC Thematic Report on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing, to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Report
Adrian Wells		2002

Current projects
VERIFOR: Institutional Options for Verifying Legality in the Forest Sector
VERIFOR is concerned with the policy, institutional and legal challenges around the issue of illegal logging. It seeks to help tropical producer countries verify that their timber has been legally harvested...
David Brown, Cecilia Luttrell, Adrian Wells, Neil Bird, Kate Schreckenberg		February 2005 - January 2009
Linking Land Tenure Regularization and Forest Management in Honduras
The overall objective of this initiative is to support the GoH's efforts to regularise forest land tenure in the country by examining different arrangements of forest ownership and access/control rightsand their implications for responsible use and equity.
Adrian Wells, Filippo Del Gatto and David Brown		January 2006 - ongoing

Completed projects
Forest Sector Studies, Papua New Guinea
ODI prepared three papers, to be presented at the "Seminar on Trees and Tree Products for the Future of Papua New Guinea" in December 2006: History of the Forest Sector; Audit of the Forest Sector; and Potential of the Forest Sector. The studies form part of a programme aiming to ‘provide a forum for a participatory approach to drawing up a plan for the future of the forestry industry in Papua New Guinea'.
Neil Bird, Adrian Wells , Flip van Helden and David Brown		December 2006
Customary Rights and the Forest Sector in Indonesian Papua
This project provides policy advice to senior policy makers and support to legal drafting. It aims at more equitable allocation of forest lands, the re-designation of commercial concessions and the grant of community forest management rights.
Adrian Wells		March - April 2006
Poverty and Sustainable Forest Management in the Context of Decentralisation: Adding Value, Sharpening Policy
This project plans to build a 'Shared Learning Partnership' between local and central government, research institutions, civil society and the private sector, on poverty and its relationship to sustainable forest management.
Gill Shepherd and Adrian Wells		October 2002 - April 2003
Governance and Poverty Impacts of the Illegal Timber Trade in Central America
This project aims to catalyse institutional and policy change with regard to the illegal timber trade in Honduras and Nicaragua through the creation of an accessible information base on the nature, extent and dynamics of this illegal trade, and by building awareness, dialogue and 'coalitions for change' amongst political institutions, government agencies, donors and civil society.
Adrian Wells and Michael Richards		2001-2002
Preparation of the Second Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the European Community, and Thematic Reports on Forests, Alien Species and Benefit Sharing
This project aims to support DG Environment in the preparation of the Second Report from the European Community to the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Gill Shepherd and Adrian Wells		2001