UICN - Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza

Caroline Seagle, USA

18 April 2012 | Article

Having worked on development in academic and non-governmental environments, I am committed to understanding the often complex relationship between global discourses and local realities of sustainability, land-based livelihoods and heritage. While conservation of nature is a global concern, it is crucial to carefully consider equity, scale, cultural use-values of biodiversity, and rights of indigenous groups.

In addition to bringing these debates to the policy table, as a young scholar I will promote and strengthen youth participation within IUCN by working closely with the Task Force on Intergenerational Partnerships for Sustainability, young professionals groups across Commissions, the Secretariat, and Member Organizations. Youth play an important role in shaping development thought and practice, and have much to offer in terms of informing policy debates and taking meaningful action.

My current PhD research (joint appoint VU University Amsterdam and McGill University) examines rural transformations sparked by large-scale mineral extraction and conservation in Madagascar. Highly proficient in English and French, I have a strong interest in the politics of human-environment interactions, rights-based approaches to conservation and corporate engagements in biodiversity conservation. My work fits within CEESP's Theme on Governance, Equity and Rights (TGER) and debates surrounding environmental justice, local land rights and heritage.

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