Anastasia Yang

Dr. Anastasia Yang (Annie), currently serving as Forest and Peatland Academic Manager at the University of Edinburgh, brings extensive expertise in environmental policy and socio-ecological systems research. Her academic journey includes a BSc in Ecology from the University of East Anglia, an MSc in Environment and Development, and a PhD in Rural Development Policy Analysis from the University of Edinburgh. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to understanding environmental governance and sustainable resource management across global contexts. Her work with the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub focuses on evaluating nitrogen-related policies and stakeholder engagement in South Asia, while her research in forest landscapes spans both tropical and Scottish contexts. Before joining Edinburgh, she held prestigious positions at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) in Indonesia and the Thünen Institute in Hamburg, where she focused on community forest values and sustainable tropical forest management. Her research portfolio includes groundbreaking work on nitrogen pollution policies in South Asia, rural development policy evaluation, and forest landscape restoration. She has demonstrated particular expertise in participatory research methods and policy analysis, contributing to projects like the Climate KIC ForLand initiative and serving as an academic fellow with Scottish Parliament. Her interdisciplinary approach combines environmental sustainability with social justice considerations, making her a leading voice in bridging science, policy, and practical implementation for environmental management.