Doctoral Dissertation Research: Afro-Indigeneity and Protected Area Management

这个博士论文改进项目研究了黑人和土著的政治身份是如何在自然保护区的创建和管理方面相交的。虽然有很多关于政治认同和保护的研究，但关于复杂身份和保护的交集的文献仍然存在空白。例如，美洲的一些传统团体同时主张黑人和土著的政治身份。这些社区往往早于它们现在所在的国家，它们所占领的地区在历史上被认为是不适合居住的。这些群体还面临着土地不安全的问题，同时在保护中发挥着重要作用。了解这些独特社区的政治认同、领土主张和生态知识，对自然保护区的创建和管理具有重要意义。研究结果将通过会议报告、学术出版物和利益相关者会议进行传播。结果将通过书面政策声明和建议传达给政府办公室、发展机构、非政府组织和当地利益攸关方。作为博士论文改进奖，该项目将提供支持，使有前途的学生建立一个独立的研究生涯。这项研究采用了比较案例研究的方法，分析和比较了两个Maroon定居点的经历，这些定居点是非洲后裔，他们也声称拥有土著地位。这两个社区都位于牙买加的森林地区，环境保护和国家治理水平不同。本研究有三个目标：1)确定逃亡者如何描述和解释他们的身份，以谈判领土和保护区管理的要求；2)确定州政府官员如何描述和解释栗色人种的身份、领土主张和保护区管理；3)确定解决不同利益相关者之间紧张关系的方法。博士生将采用一系列定性方法，包括：半结构化关键信息人访谈；参与观察;收集和分析档案文件（调查报告、环境管理计划、政策文件和地图）。这些方法将辅以与当地社区和环境非政府组织的合作和联系。虽然这个研究项目将把重点放在牙买加的maroon上，但研究结果将为包括美国在内的美洲其他地方的非洲土著和保护区管理提供见解。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 doctoral dissertation improvement project examines how Black and indigenous political identities intersect with respect to the creation and management of protected natural areas. While there have been many studies on political identity and conservation, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the intersection of complex identities and conservation. Some traditional groups in the Americas, for instance, claim both Black and indigenous political identities simultaneously. Such communities often predate the countries in which they now exist, many occupying areas historically assumed to be uninhabitable. Such groups also face land insecurity, while at the same time playing an important role in conservation. Understanding the political identities, territorial claims, and ecological knowledge of these distinct communities has important implications for the creation and management of protected natural areas. The research findings will be disseminated through conference presentations, academic publications, and stakeholder meetings. Results will be communicated through written policy statements and recommendations to government offices, development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local stakeholders. As a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement award, this project will provide support to enable a promising student to establish an independent research career.The research uses a comparative case study approach, analyzing and comparing the experiences of two Maroon settlements, African-descended peoples who also claim indigenous status. Both communities are located in forested areas of Jamaica, with different levels of environmental protection and state governance. This research has three objectives: 1) identify how Maroons describe and interpret their identity to negotiate claims on territory and protected area management; 2) identify how state officials describe and interpret Maroon identity, claims on territory, and protected area management; and 3) identify ways tensions between diverse stakeholders are resolved. The doctoral student will employ a range of qualitative methods, including: semi-structured key informant interviews; participant observation; and collection and analysis of archival documents (survey reports, environmental management plans, policy papers, and maps). These methods will be complemented by collaboration and affiliation with local communities and environmental non-governmental organizations. Although this research project will focus on Maroons in Jamaica, the findings will provide insights into Afro-Indigeneity and protected area management elsewhere in the Americas, including in the United States.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.