Sonya is Director if the Asia Continental activities of ICRAF, based in Bogor, Indonesia. She is also a Principal Landscape Ecologist Her active research and works are on landscape and jurisdictional approaches for green growth, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, and ecosystem health, mostly in Asian countries but also in Latin America and Africa. She received a PhD from Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

In her presentation Sonya will explain how Agroforestry can empower oil palm smallholders to thrive in a changing climate and contribute to nature-positive agriculture. We will demonstrate how this sustainable farming practice enhances resilience to extreme weather, diversifies income streams, and improves livelihoods. By integrating diverse tree species, agroforestry not only mitigates climate change but also enhances ecosystem health and contributes to food security. We will also discuss the key challenges hindering wider adoption and present practical solutions to encourage the successful implementation of agroecological principles in oil palm landscapes.