Page 1 of 1Fleischman CV – November 2015

Forrest D. Fleischman

Assistant Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management & Texas Agrilife Research

Texas A&M University, 2138 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Academic Positions:

  • Texas A&M University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management & Texas Agrilife Research: Assistant Professor, August 2013 - Present
  • Dartmouth College Environmental Studies Program: Postdoctoral Research Associate, September 2012-July 2013. Supervisor: Michael Cox

Education:

  • Indiana University School of Public & Environmental Affairs & Department of Political Science:Joint PhD in Public Policy Awarded August 2012.

Concentrations: Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Political Theory & Methodology

Dissertation Title: Public Servant Behavior and Forest Policy Implementation in Central India.

Committee: Elinor Ostrom (Chair, deceased), Arun Agrawal, Burney Fischer, Armando Razo, Catherine Tucker

  • Stanford University: Coterminal MS and BS in Earth Systems with Honors in Environmental Science and Policy, June 2003.

Peer Reviewed Publications:

  1. Fleischman, F.D. Understanding India's forest bureaucracy: a review. Regional Environmental Change. In Press.
  2. Fleischman, F. D., Ban, N. C., Evans, L. S., Epstein, G., Garcia-Lopez, G., & Villamayor-Tomas, S. (2014). Governing large-scale social-ecological systems: Lessons from five cases. International Journal of the Commons, 8(2).
  3. Fleischman, F. D., Loken, B., Garcia-Lopez, G. A., & Villamayor-Tomas, S. (2014). Evaluating the utility of common-pool resource theory for understanding forest governance and outcomes in Indonesia between 1965 and 2012. International Journal of the Commons, 8(2).
  4. Villamayor-Tomas, S., Fleischman, F. D., Perez Ibarra, I., Thiel, A., & Laerhoven, F.V. (2014). From Sandoz to Salmon: Conceptualizing resource and institutional dynamics in the Rhine watershed through the SES framework. International Journal of the Commons, 8(2).
  5. Fleischman, Forrest D. 2014. "Why do Foresters Plant Trees? Testing Theories of Bureaucratic Decision-Making in Central India." World Development 62:62-74. doi:
  6. Arnold, Gwen A., & Fleischman, F.D. 2013. “The Influence of Organizations and Institutions on Wetland Policy Stability: The Rapanos Case.” The Policy Studies Journal 41(2): 343-364.
  7. Coleman, E. A., & Fleischman, F. D. 2012. Comparing Forest Decentralization and Local Institutional Change in Bolivia, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda. World Development 40(4): 836-849.
  8. Fleischman, F.D., Kinga Boenning, Gustavo A. Garcia-Lopez, Sarah Mincey, Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh, Katrin Daedlow, Maria Claudia Lopez, Xavier Basurto, Burney Fischer, and Elinor Ostrom 2010. "Disturbance, Response, and Persistence in Self-Organized Forested Communities: Over-Time Analysis of Five Communities in Southern Indiana.” Ecology and Society 15 (4):9.

Submitted Papers:

  1. Fleischman, F.D. Questioning Kaufman: Political context overrides organizational structure in forestry agencies. Revise and Resubmit atPublic Administration Review.
  2. Fleischman, F.D., with David Briske. Professional Ecological Knowledge: The implications of an unrecognized knowledge domain for natural resource management. Submitted to Ecology and Society.
  3. Fleischman, F.D., with Claudia Rodriguez Solorzano. The Three-legged stool of participatory stability: Institutional Supply, public demand, and citizen capabilities. Submitted to World Development.
  4. Michael Cox, Sergio Villamayor-Tomas, Graham Epstein, Louisa Evans, Natalie C. Ban, Forrest Fleischman, Mateja Nenadovic, Gustavo Garcia-Lopez. Formalizing theories of sustainability science. Submitted to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Non Peer-Reviewed Publications:

  1. Fleischman, F.D., 2012. Book Review of "Rutherford, Stephanie. Governing the Wild: Ecotours of Power. Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press 2011. ISBN 978-0-8166-7447-3, Price $25 (paperback). Xxvi+280 pages, index." Human Ecology 40(6): 967-968.
  2. Fleischman, F.D., 2011. Grass Roots and Big Trees: The challenges and potentials of polycentered collective action. Grassroots Economic Organizing (GEO) Newsletter 2(9).
  3. Ghate, R., & Fleischman, F.D., 2011. What Are the Lessons of Elinor Ostrom’s Work for South Asian Forests? Current Conservation 4(3):13-15.
  4. Fleischman, F.D. & Visa, A., 2008 Political Empowerment and Economic Growth as Determinants of Agro-Ecosystem Change in Kerala: A Preliminary Report. In Malhotra, Gunjan., ed. Environmental Growth : A Global Perspective. New Delhi: Macmillan India Ltd.
  5. Forest Magazine (National Magazine about public forest formerly published by Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics):

Dismantling the National Forest Management Act. Summer 2006.(

Wolves Run Free & Unfettered Salvage Logging. Spring 2006. (

Don't Judge a Tree by its Color. Winter 2006.(

Monitoring Timber, Not Wildlife. Fall 2005.(

Planning without Purpose. Summer 2005. (

Some Like it Hot: The Black-backed Woodpecker and Burned Forests. Summer 2005. (

Strangely Like Fire: The Pacific Northwest's Invasive Species Management Strategy. Spring 2005. (

Teaching Experience:

  • Texas A&M University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management: ESSM 406, Natural Resource Policy (Fall 2013, 2014, 2015); ESSM 489/689, Changing Natural Resource Policy (Fall 2014), ESSM 689, Institutional Analysis of Natural Resource Policy (Fall 2015)

Enrollment and Teaching evaluation figures:(teaching evaluation scores are on a 5 point scale, with 5 being highest. Overall departmental mean for fall 2014 online evaluations for all questions was 4.15)

Course / 2013 / 2014
ESSM 406: Natural Resource Policy (Online, writing intensive, required for most ESSM majors) / Overall evaluation: 4.0
Enrollment: 89 UG / Overall evaluation: 4.4
Enrollment: 87 UG
ESSM 489/689: Changing Natural Resource Policy / Not offered / Overall Evaluation: 4.7
Enrollment: 15 UG, 3 G
  • Indiana University, School of Public & Environmental Affairs: Associate Instructor, E162, Environment and People (Fall 2009, Spring 2010)
  • July 2003-September 2004: Farm Apprentice, the Chewonki Foundation, Wiscasset Me.

As farm apprentice I served as a faculty member of the Chewonki Semester School, taught classes on agriculture & forestry, and served as an advisor to high school juniors spending a semester at an intensive environment-oriented residential program.

  • Teaching interests: Environment & natural resource policy & politics, institutional analysis, tropical deforestation, international development, coupled social-ecological systems, sustainable development, agrarian change, natural resource administration, community based natural resource management, science and public policy, alternative dispute resolution, community development,comparative public administration,South Asian politics, policy change, qualitative and multi-method research, applied research on social-ecological change.
  • Graduate Mentoring: I currently chair 1 PhD committee, serve on 4 PhD committees, co-chair 1 Masters committee, and serve on 2 masters committees.

Grants & Awards:

Major Awards:

  • 2014 CO-PI, “The Applied Biodiversity Science Program: Integrating Multidisciplinary Research and High Impact Learning into Undergraduate and Graduate Education.” Texas A&M Tier One Program, 3 years, $300,000
  • 2007 PI, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient (5 years, $150,000)

Under Development/review:

  • PI: Texas A&M Program to Enhance Scholarly Achievement: Information flows about drought adaptation planning among Texas Agrilife Extension County Agents. $18,000. Submitted November 1, 2015.
  • PI: NASA Land Cover/Land-Use Change: Impacts of Artificial Afforestation on Ecosystem Service Provision in India. $500,000. Step-1 Proposal to be submitted December 1, 2015.
  • Co-PI: Joint Fire Science Program: Fighting Wildfire with Prescribed Burning on Private land in the Southern Great Plains – Social and Regulatory Barriers and Facilitators. $400,000. Submitted November 5, 2015.

Other:

  • 2012: Best paper in Institutional Analysis.12th Annual Association of SPEA PhD Students Conference, March 23rd, Indiana University.
  • 2010: Best Paper in Environmental Science & Policy.10th Annual Association of SPEA PhD Students Conference, April 9th, Indiana University.
  • 2009: Indiana University Office of the Vice President for International Affairs Summer Pre-Dissertation Research Grant ($2500)
  • 2006: Fulbright Scholarship Designee, India (declined, $12,000).
  • 2004-2006: Wrote $30,000 in successful grant applications for my employer, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics
  • 2003: Honors in Environmental Science & Policy, Goldman Honors Program, Stanford University Center for Environmental Science & Policy.
  • 2002: Received two separate Stanford Undergraduate Research Opportunity grants.
  • 2000: Stanford Undergraduate Research Opportunity grant.
  • 1999: Bing Summer Undergraduate Field Assistant Grant.

Invited/keynote talks

  1. Fleischman, F.D. Why foresters plant trees: the social and institutional causes of afforestation in India and beyond. Plenary Talk at International Symposium and Workshop on Afforestation and Agricultural Conversion of Naturally Non-Forest Ecosystems. Stanford University, Stanford, CA., November 16, 2015.
  2. Fleischman, F.D., & Rodriguez Solorzano, C. Capabilities and demand for participation in the development policy process. Presented at the Workshop in Political Theory & Policy Analysis, April 15, 2015.
  3. Fleischman, F.D. Social Mobility, Public Service Values, and Belief formation among Indian forestry officials: A Preliminary View. Program on Equity, Representation, and Governance, Texas A&M University Dept. of Political Science. September 24, 2014.
  4. Fleischman, F.D. Understanding how conservation managers are influenced by politics:
    A typology with case studies from central India. Texas A&M University, Applied Biodiversity Science Speaker Series, April 17, 2014.
  5. Fleischman, F.D. Understanding the Influences on Decision-making by Indian Foresters. Presented at the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India; Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University, Delhi, India; Kanha-Pench Landscape Symposium, Kanha National Park, India; Centre for Economic & Social Studies, Hyderabad, India; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal; Nepal Forestry Association, Kathmandu, Nepal. February-March 2014.
  6. Fleischman, F.D. Why property rights fail to protect natural resources: case studies of Roving bandits and forest conservation in the Northeastern US. Texas A&M Ecosystem Science & Management Departmental Seminar, September 24, 2013.
  7. Fleischman, F.D. Why do foresters plant trees? Applying multiple management theories to understand the behavior of Central Indian forest administrators. Texas A&M University, Department of Ecosystem Science & Management (April 19, 2013) Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs (February 25, 2013) and University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute Environmental Working Group, (February 15, 2013), and the Inaugural event of the Dartmouth College Environment & Society speaker series (October 4, 2012).
  8. Fleischman, F.D. 2011 Organizational influences on the decision-making of Indian forest managers. Indiana University Workshop in Political Theory & Policy Analysis Colloquium Series, December 7, 2011.
  9. Fleischman, F.D. 2011. Political Control and Bureaucratic Decision-making in Indian Forest Management. The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs Governance and Management Faculty Seminar Series, November 3, 2011 & The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources Seminar Series, November 10, 2011

Selected RecentConference Presentations:

  1. Fleischman, F.D. & Rodriguez Solorzano, C. The Three-legged stool of participatory stability: institutional supply, public demand, and citizen capabilities in tropical forest governance. First Annual Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research, and Engagement Conference. Paris, France, November 27-30, 2015.
  2. Min-Venditti, A. & Fleischman, F.D. Effects of public policies in Central America and Mexico on deforestation and reforestation trends. First Annual Forests & Livelihoods: Assessment, Research, and Engagement Conference. Paris, France, November 27-30, 2015.
  3. Fleischman, F.D. Knowledge and Knowledge Gaps in the study of the role of government in public policy in India. Public Management Research Conference, Minneapolis MN, June 12, 2015.
  4. Fleischman, F.D. Approaches to the study of government agencies in third world environmental politics. Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago IL, April 18, 2015.
  5. Fleischman, F.D., et al. Comparing the effectiveness of national level forest policies across Central America.Salt Lake City, UT. International Union of Forestry Research Organizations World Congress, Oct 7, 2014.
  6. Fleischman, F.D., et al. Studying National Forest Policies in comparative context through the lens of the social-ecological systems meta-analysis database. Montpellier, France. Resilience 2014, May 6, 2014.
  7. Fleischman, F.D. Dimensions of Political Influences on Bureaucratic Decision-Making in Land Management Policy in India’s Forest Departments. Global Land Project Open Science Meeting, Berlin, Germany, March 19-21, 2014.
  8. Fleischman, F.D. with Michael Cox (Presenter) and Emily Blackmer. Does Establishing Property Rights Protect Forests from Roving Bandits? International Congress for Conservation Biology, Baltimore, MD, July 22nd, 2013.
  9. Fleischman, F.D. with Natalie C. Ban, Louisa S. Evans, Graham Epstein, Gustavo Garcia-Lopez and Sergio Villamayor-Tomas. Governing large-scale social-ecological systems: Lessons from a comparison of five cases. International Association for the Study of the Commons, Kitafuji, Japan, June 4, 2013.

Professional & Research Experience

  • June-July 2015. Attended Inter-university Consortium on Political and Social Research methods training courses at the University of Michigan.
  • May-August 2015. Visiting Faculty, International Forestry Resources and Institutions Program ( School of Natural Resources & Environment, University of Michigan.
  • March 2015. India. Research on forestry training in Telangana & Uttarkhand.
  • July-August 2014, January 2015. Mexico. Research on protected area governance, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
  • February-March & June-July 2014. India. Research on forestry training & policy implementation in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarkhand, Delhi.
  • March-June 2013 – Research on forest management in Northern New England
  • October 2011-Present. Core member of the Social Ecological Systems Meta-analysis Database project (
  • May 2010-March 2011. India. Dissertation Research in Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi.
  • June-August 2009. India. Pre-dissertation research in Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi.
  • August 2007 – August 2012. Indiana. Graduate Research Associate, Workshop in Political Theory & Policy Analysis, Indiana University.
  • September 2006 – July 2007. India. Fulbright Scholarship Designee & Independent Researcher, Kerala Agricultural University.
  • November 2004 – June 2006. Oregon. Policy advocate at Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.
  • July 2003 – September 2004 – Maine. Farm Apprentice & Teacher: Chewonki Foundation Salt Marsh Organic Farm & The Maine Coast Semester.
  • June-August 2002 – California. Honors thesis research on non-industrial private forest management in Mendocino County, California. Supervised by Pamela Matson & Dominique Irvine
  • March-June 2001 – California, Stanford Hopkins Marine Station. Independent research on intertidal ecology.
  • January-March 2001 – California, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve & Carnegie Institute of Washington. Undergraduate Research Assistant for Chris Field, Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment.
  • March 1999-June 2003 – California, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Docent & volunteer research assistant on a variety of projects.
  • June-August, 2000 – Peru – Tambopata/Rainforest Expeditions. Independent undergraduate research on bird and mammal population dynamics.
  • June-August, 1999 – Costa Rica – Las Cruces Field Station, undergraduate research assistant for Cagan Sekercioglu, Claire Horner-Devine, and Gretchen Daily on butterfly and bird conservation.
  • January-May, 1999 – California – Ackerly Plant ecology lab. Undergraduate research assistant.

Service:

  • Curriculum re-design consultant for the Directorate of Forestry Education, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, for the re-design of curriculum for State Forest Service training courses. 2015
  • Co-coordinator (with David Briske), ESSM departmental seminar series 2014-15
  • Reviewer, Texas A&M Graduate diversity & merit scholarships, 2014, 2015.
  • Journal Reviews: Ecology & Society (4), International Journal of the Commons (4), Sustainability Science (1), International Forestry Review (3), Ecological Economics (3), Policy Studies Journal (2), Human Ecology (2), Environmental Science & Policy (1), Development Studies Research (1), Society & Natural Resources (1), Conservation & Society (2), Current Science (1), Review of Policy Research (1).
  • Evaluator, Elinor Ostrom Award on Collective Governance of Common Goods, 2013, 2015.
  • Abstract review for the International Association for the Study of the Commons biannual meeting in Hyderabad, India, 2011; Mt. Fuji, Japan, 2013.
  • Member of institutional design team (2010) & cofacilitator, operations team (2011) for the Bloomington Community Orchard.
  • Association of SPEA PhD Students Conference Organizing Committee (2007-2010) and board member and Chair, Conference Organizing Committee (2008-2009)
  • Direct Service Volunteer with LEAD, a mentoring program for low-income at-risk youth in Eugene, OR (2005-2006)