Page 9 - Governing Congo Basin Forests in a Changing Climate • Olufunso Somorin

the Congo Basin” – to see things from the lenses of the people even if doesn’t make sense to me as a researcher. Thank you Denis! I am extremely grateful for your leadership and wisdom, even during our difficult times in CIFOR.
Within CIFOR, I have many people to thank for their support during this journey: Carolyn Peach Brown, Anne-Marie Tiani, Youssoufa Bele, Abdon Awono, Eugene Chia, Bruno Locatelli, Esther Mwangi, Florence Munoh, Cyrie Sendashonga, Andrew Wardell, Robert Nasi and other CIFOR folks. To all my CIFOR interns, consultants, research assistants and MSc students, thank you! I hope this work will inspire you to continue from where I stopped.
After spending many years of studying in Wageningen University, I have a few colleagues at FNP to thank for their support as well: Esther, Freerk, Jim, Marjanke, Jessica, Joana, Alemayehu, Susan, Wiepke, Albertina, Jelle and Jolien. Thank you for our multiple discussions on theories, data collection, and publishing papers. You all contributed to my wonderful PhD experience. Thank you Robert Ochieng for being my paranymph, very soon, it will be your turn to defend yours. Many thanks to Carla and Audrey for their support on administrative issues.
My life in Wageningen was not limited to academic work, I was blessed with a wonderful family who embraced me and taught me what the university could not teach me. Thank you Amazing Grace Parish (AGP) of the RCCG church. First, let me appreciate the set man, Pastor Farai Maphosa and his wonderful wife, Busi. You have raised many giants, and I am blessed to be one of them. Thank you for your fatherly love, friendship and support. You and your wife have imprinted your names in the hearts of many because of your selflessness and heart of service. To my dearest Ednah and Elton Zvinavashe, I cannot appreciate you enough. Let this book remind you of the tenacity of dreams and the enduring power of passion and diligence. You both have tremendously contributed to the success of this work in many ways. I cannot mention every one of you in AGP. But thank you Adesua, Mary, Doris, Janet, Lizzy, Sarah, Sunday and everyone for your prayers and fellowship.
In my short life, I have been blessed by people who mentor me, encourage me during difficult moments, challenge me to always see the bigger pictures, and
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