Doctoral Dissertation Research: Understanding Indigenous Contributions to Arctic Biodiversity Conservation Efforts

本论文项目考察了土著研究人员、科学专业人士和当地社区如何塑造围绕北极地区土地和物种保护的讨论。北极人民一直致力于生物多样性保护工作，尽管在有意义地参与方面仍面临许多挑战。本研究涉及四种方法，主要考察：(1)土著社区在数据收集、规划、实施、评估和报告方面对北极生物多样性研究的贡献；(2)土著知识和科学合作提供数据用于保护规划的方式；(3)对多样性参与保护工作的障碍的认识；(4)促进当前北极保护项目和倡议的参与性进程。本研究研究了保护的人类层面，通过确定有效参与土著人民和其他利益相关者的工具和方法来改进科学方法，记录解决生物多样性工作的各种方法，改善北极景观的管理和保护，以及将土著知识和科学与保护科学结合起来。虽然这项研究的重点是北极，但研究结果将有助于更好地理解世界各地保护工作和参与式设计的交集。本研究确定了30个建议的研究地点进行深入的实地研究，因为这些研究主题的信息通常是有限的，只有部分记录，用英语以外的语言记录，或者在从事保护工作的专业人员和社区成员的生活记忆中捕捉到。四项研究的数据收集和分析包括：(1)收集北极生物多样性研究的已发表文献进行内容分析（n=100）；(2)案例研究开发、比较案例研究分析和重点比较从事知识合作生产的保护项目（n=10）；(3)通过转录、定性数据分析软件和专题编码对土著和保护专业人员进行30分钟半结构化访谈（n=50）。(4)通过过程追踪、重点比较、内容分析和主成分分析，对北极保护区的土著利用和参与进行比较案例研究分析（n=35）。这项研究的结果将阐明土著居民的参与如何有助于保护科学和保护目标。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This dissertation project examines how Indigenous researchers, science professionals, and local communities shape the discussions around conservation of lands and species across the Arctic. Arctic Peoples have been engaged in biodiversity conservation efforts though many challenges remain to meaningful participation. This research involves four approaches that examine (1) the contributions of Indigenous communities to Arctic biodiversity research in data collection, planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting; (2) the ways in which Indigenous Knowledge and science partner to provide data for use in conservation planning; (3) the perceptions of the barriers to diverse participation in conservation efforts, and; (4) the facilitation of participatory processes of current Arctic conservation projects and initiatives. This research studies the human dimensions of conservation, improving scientific methodologies by identifying tools and approaches for meaningfully engaging Indigenous Peoples and other stakeholders, documenting diverse approaches to addressing biodiversity efforts, improving the management and conservation of Arctic landscapes, and partnering Indigenous knowledge and science for conservation science. While this research focuses on the Arctic, the findings will have application for better understanding the intersection of conservation efforts and participatory designs across the world. This research identifies thirty proposed study locations for intensive field study as information on these research topics is often limited, only partially recorded, recorded in a language other than English, or captured in the living memories of professionals and community members engaged in conservation efforts. Data collection and analyses for the four studies include, (1) gathering published literature on Arctic biodiversity research for content analysis (n=100), (2) case study development, comparative case study analysis, and focused comparison of conservation projects engaged in knowledge co-production (n=10), (3) 30-minute semi-structured interviews of Indigenous and conservation professionals analyzed via transcription, qualitative data analysis software, and thematic coding (n=50), and (4) comparative case study analysis of Indigenous use of, and engagement in, Arctic protected areas via process tracing, focused comparison, content analysis, and principal component analysis (n=35). Results from this research will clarify how Indigenous participation contributes to conservation science and goals.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.