URAP Project Descriptions

Bridging Scientific and Traditional Knowledge for Rainforest Conservation and Restoration

Matthew Potts, Professor
Environmental Science, Policy and Management

Open. Apprentices needed for the spring semester. Enter your application online beginning January 17th. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 27th, 4 p.m..

Forest restoration is an increasingly relevant topic across the globe, hailed as a key component to solutions for climate change, biodiversity crises, and sustainable development. Despite a growing awareness of the importance of forests and the need for ecosystem restoration, crucial information on natural forest regeneration processes is often lacking to inform the design of forest restoration initiatives. The rainforests of eastern Madagascar, a renowned biodiversity hotspot facing extensive and ongoing deforestation, provides an excellent case study in this context. While both rural, forest-reliant communities and the Malagasy government increasingly recognize the need for ecosystem protection and restoration, resources to protect and restore forests are still extremely limited, and little is known about the natural regeneration trajectories in Madagascar’s forests, and the roles of various tree species in this process.

Simultaneously, as we face extensive global deforestation and biodiversity loss, fewer people have the opportunity to connect directly with natural ecosystems, pass on generational knowledge about species’ ecology and values, and forge a deep investment in their preservation. However, local, traditional knowledge passed on through immersion in nature is crucial for the conservation and restoration of threatened ecosystems. Many common species are often already familiar to local people, and traditional knowledge may also be linked to species’ roles in regenerating forests. Unfortunately, there is oftentimes a disconnect between local and scientific ways of knowing species, and it is essential that we learn from each other to advance our collective ecological knowledge and effectively conserve biodiversity.

This project aims to take a comprehensive approach to knowledge collection and exchange about rainforest tree species to empower conservation action across multiple levels preserve invaluable traditional knowledge. We are (1) collecting data on occurrence and characteristics of tree species across forest/old field edge gradients, (2) conducting an experiment to better understand the regeneration of forests in this system, and (3) working to merge local and scientific knowledge of common species.

Role: The URAP student(s) will be able to contribute both scientific research and outreach for this project, through:
(1) Processing data on tree traits and regeneration that will help us better understand Madagascar’s unique forest ecosystems (e.g. data entry, sample measurement, some simple analyses, etc)
(2) Retrieve and organize photos and contribute to design elements for a bilingual field guide our team is developing to enable effective communication between local and international conservationists and preserve traditional knowledge. (e.g. select appropriate photos on file, process photos in Photoshop or similar program, build layouts for guide, etc)

The student’s role will be invaluable in supporting ongoing research on rainforest restoration in Madagascar and facilitating the exchange of traditional and scientific knowledge of keystone Malagasy tree species to empower conservation, and this project will provide valuable experience for the student in data management and applied scientific research. Depending on student interest and ability, this opportunity could also lead to field research and/or senior thesis development.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate for this position should have a keen interest in pursuing a career in ecology, ecosystem management/restoration, or conservation science. Previous experience with and general knowledge of tropical forest ecology and ecosystem restoration is a plus. All students should have excellent reading, writing, and organizational skills.

Preferred qualifications include: Having taken basic statistics and ecology classes, experience with programming (e.g. R, Python, etc), experience with image editing and design software such as adobe photoshop, and/or reading proficiency in French. In your essay, please be sure mention (1) why you believe conservation, restoration, and/or ecology are important; and (2) your career interests, and how you think this project will either (a) equip you for your long-term goals or (b) help you in the process of figuring out your career goals.

Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Kat Culbertson, Graduate Student

Hours: to be negotiated

Social Sciences Environmental Issues Biological & Health Sciences

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