Melissa Leach

Misreading the African Landscape, published in 1996 and co-authored by Melissa Leach and James Fairhead, challenged prevailing assumptions that West African forest-savanna mosaics were the result of human-caused deforestation. Using research in Guinea, the authors argued that local communities had actually created and maintained forest patches through their farming practices. The book was a landmark in political ecology and challenged mainstream environmental narratives.

Yes, Melissa Leach was a co-founder and director of the STEPS Centre (Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability) at the University of Sussex. The centre was established in 2006 and examined how pathways to sustainability are shaped by social, technological, and environmental dynamics. Her work there connected development studies with environmental and health research.

Melissa Leach's early research in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, examined environmental change, agriculture, gender, and ecology. Her fieldwork challenged orthodox views of deforestation and desertification by demonstrating how local knowledge and practices shaped landscapes in ways external experts often misunderstood. This work established her reputation in political ecology and development studies.

Yes, Melissa Leach's research extends to the intersections of environment, health, and public policy, including work on zoonotic diseases, epidemics, and One Health approaches. She has engaged with institutions such as the IPCC and contributed to debates about climate change adaptation. She served as director of the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.