Dr. Audrey Joslin’s research broadly focuses on the junctures of conservation and development and contributes to theoretical advancement in political ecology, environmental governance, and natural resource management in geographical literatures. Her current project in the Great Plains region examines how the uptick in wildfire influences decision-making by rural land managers to engage in conservation programs. In the Andes, Dr. Joslin examines the relationship between urban and rural landscapes as montane grasslands are re-defined as infrastructure for urban water provision.
Her research examines the interactions between nature and society, emphasizing environmental governance and the socio-political dimensions of conservation programs.
Her recent work particularly focuses on the outcomes of incentive-based conservation in grassland ecosystems and includes projects in the Andes mountains as well as the Great Plains
Research Interests
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Political ecology, environmental governance, biodiversity conservation, market-based environmental initiatives, Latin America.
I study nature-society interactions and engage with the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of natural resource and environmental management. My research examines biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, political ecology, rural-urban connections, and environmental governance.
I specialize in qualitative research methods and ethnography. I am also skilled with applications in GIS and enjoy mixed-methods research projects. My current projects examine the social dimensions of incentive-based conservation strategies promoted as alternatives to protected areas. I ask: how does the introduction of incentives for conservation interact with local institutions and land management strategies?
Current Projects:
- Water Funds & Landscape Change
- Wildfire & Incentive-Based Conservation
