Dr. Jeffrey Davidson embarked on a new research project in 2010 which involved travelling to Asia on several occasions. The goal of the project is to investigate the processes involved in building the capacity for research and application of ecosystem approaches to health management among researchers, development practitioners, and policy makers in South and Southeast Asia.

The research will also investigate the methodologies and tools which contribute to effective capacity building in ecosystem approaches. Existing regional networks such as APEIR have already begun defining the kinds of research agendas and personal relationships that are necessary to make an ecosystem approach effective. This research project will enhance opportunities for these and newer regional networks to identify and build capacity through the research activities of this project.The working hypothesis of this project is that bringing actors together from different countries and institutions with an array of experience and expertise in the prevention of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), public health, and health promotion will enable participants to investigate and respond more effectively to complex ecohealth issues, with a particular focus on EIDs. This work will contribute in the longer term to an effective network of expertise in ecosystem approaches to managing health, contributing to ecohealth skills and knowledge development in the region including input to ecohealth policy formulation. The target audiences of this project include academic researchers, government staff, and extension personnel who are and will be involved in promoting integration and application of ecohealth approaches in activities which directly benefit communities in need.