Student: Sadie Kurtz
Graduation date: May 2017
Type: Concentration (single major)
Date approved: May 2015
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Summary
For my concentration I want to focus on global and national conservation policy in coastal areas. Political ecology is the field that analyzes ecological conditions based on the social and political involvement in that area (Adams et al. 2007). This area of study was developed in the 1970’s and has become widespread in its usage across the world (Adams et al. 2007). A large portion of political ecology is focused on conservation policy implementation throughout the globe. I am curious to learn more about the effects of conservation policy, and its impacts on the coastal communities where they are enacted.
Marine biodiversity is rapidly decreasing amongst coastal areas due to the development of coastal landscapes (Gray 1997). As coastal communities change, population’s change and demographics adapt to their dynamic society. Marine biodiversity levels are susceptible to vulnerability (Gray 1997) which may or may not warrant protection. In recent decades we’ve seen movement in human populations to coastlines totaling in an estimated 67% of the world’s populations residing within 60km of a coastline (Hammond et al 1992). Marine systems are very complex to provide protection for as unlike land you can’t just build a fence around it. With such a large portion of civilization coexisting and dependent on their marine environment, I’m excited to look at how they mitigate societal norms while balancing coastal health.
I look forward to being able to delve into the reasons why conservation policy is or is not accepted at the local, national and/or international level. With conservation policy, there are numerous other actors involved that hold a lot of stake in the decision for implementation (Butt 2012, Galvin et al. 2006). With conservation policy, especially in areas that depend on their coastline, policies could regulate already existing lifestyles. As decision makers are formulating new policies there is a very fine line between protecting a resource and hindering cultural traditions. I want to explore the effectiveness of policy implementation, and concurrently look at the acceptance at the community, national and international level.
One struggle facing governments is how to appropriately communicate and justify new policies to the diverse populations (Lateef Adefalu et al. 2013). Especially when these governments are developing and don’t always have strong internal structures in their political system. I’m interested to see how the diverse range of perspectives and uses for coast land combine to different methods of coastline management.
I am incredibly excited to look at the conservation policy in coastal areas. While I am interested in conservation policy, I am also interested in the social, political and ecological issues that arise through its implementation. Coastal areas provide a context that allows for insights on cultural perceptions and coping with changing environmental conditions. Studying conservation policy is lucrative with information, but also controversial in terms of balancing cultural norms and ecological issues.
Works Cited
Adams, William M., and Jon Hutton. 2014. “People, Parks and Poverty: Political Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Adams WM, Hutton J – Conservat Soc.” Accessed November 15. http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2007;volume=5;issue=2;spage=147;epage=183;aulast=Adams.
Butt, Bilal. 2012. “Commoditizing the Safari and Making Space for Conflict: Place, Identity and Parks in East Africa.” Political Geography 31 (2): 104–13. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2011.11.002.
Galvin, Kathleen A., Philip K. Thornton, Joana Roque de Pinho, Jennifer Sunderland, and Randall B. Boone. 2006. “Integrated Modeling and Its Potential for Resolving Conflicts between Conservation and People in the Rangelands of East Africa.” Human Ecology: An Interdisciplinary Journal 34 (2): 155–83. doi:10.1007/s10745-006-9012-6.
Gray, John S. 1997. “Marine Biodiversity: Patterns, Threats and Conservation Needs.” Biodiversity & Conservation 6 (1): 153–75. doi:10.1023/A:1018335901847.
Hammond, Allen L., Mary E. Paden, and Robert T. Livernash. 1992. World Resources 1992-1993 : A Guide to the Global Environment : Toward Sustainable Development. 75574. The World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/1992/01/17389715/world-resources-1992-1993-guide-global-environment-toward-sustainable-development.
Lateef Adefalu, Lawal, Sidiqat Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Jones, Abimbola Akangbe, Isreal Ogunlade, Babatunde Michael, and Matanmi. 2013. “Local Hunting Strategies in Kwara State, Nigeria: Challenge for Wildlife Conservation Policy Enforcement.” Albanian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 12 (4): 627–32.
Questions
Descriptive—How do different communities respond to different conservation policy types? How do coastal communities navigate the varying levels of the political system to institute conservation policy?
Explanatory—Why are there conflicts in implementing conservation policy? To what extent is conservation policy in coastal areas necessary?
Evaluative—What have been the consequences of a lack of conservation policy in coastal areas? What has been sacrificed in the creation of conservation policies in coastal areas? Does the education and communication outreach that is or isn’t provided to the communities, determine whether or not the policy will be successful?
Instrumental—Is conservation policy an appropriate method of regulation in diverse populations like those found in coastal communities? Would it be more effective to create a global network for conservation policy rather than implementing at the local or state level?
Concentration courses
- ENVS 460 (Topics in Environmental Law & Policy, 4 credits). Fall 2016. A concentration-related course that provides a basis for environmental policy implementation.
- IA 296 (Human Rights and International Politics, 4 credits). Fall 2014. A concentration-related course that clarifies what human rights violations are, and therefore highlights negative impacts of conservation policies.
- Bio 115 (Explorations in Regional Biology, East Africa , 4 credits) Fall 2015. A concentration-related course that explores protected areas and the challenges surrounding them in the East Africa overseas program fall 2015.
- IA 333 (International Law, 4 Credits) Fall 2016. A concentration-related course that examines the role of international law and it's role in the international community.
Arts and humanities courses
- PHIL 215 (Philosophy and the Environment, 4 credits). Pre-approved A&H course; no justification required.
- HIST 298 (Environmental History of Modern West Africa, 4 credits) Spring 2015. A concentration related course that takes into the account of resources and their usage throughout the decolonization process in Western Africa.