Mapping Disrupted Landscapes: Analyzing the Impact of Crypto Urbanism and Metal Mining on Protected Natural Regions in El Salvador
Matthew Potts, Professor
Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Deadline for this project is extended to Tuesday, February 4th, at noon. Applicants should enter a URAP application online. This completes the application submission for this faculty mentor. Apply as soon as possible because projects may be closed as soon as they are filled. Do not wait until the deadline.
Project Overview
El Salvador is undergoing rapid transformations driven by cryptocurrency-driven urbanization (“crypto urbanism”) and the recent lifting of the metal mining ban. These developments pose significant threats to the country’s protected natural regions, including biodiversity hotspots and critical ecosystems. This project investigates the socio-environmental impacts of these changes, emphasizing land-use conflicts, ecosystem disruption, and the implications for environmental justice.
This initiative aims to map and analyze disrupted landscapes using cutting-edge geospatial tools, remote sensing technologies, and interdisciplinary research methods. It offers actionable insights into the effects of emerging digital industries and mining activities on natural and human systems. By exploring the intersections of urban ecology, environmental governance, and community resilience, this project addresses critical questions about sustainable development and equitable resource use in the face of digital and industrial transformations.
Why This Project Is Essential
This research directly addresses urgent global and regional challenges:
-Environmental Degradation: Examines the ecological impacts of crypto mining and urbanization, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution in El Salvador’s protected areas.
-Socio-Environmental Justice: Explores the disproportionate effects of environmental degradation on Indigenous and marginalized communities, advocating for policies that integrate local knowledge and resilience strategies.
-Global Digital Transformations: Investigates how emerging digital industries reshape land use, governance, and sustainability in vulnerable regions.
Progress and Upcoming Goals
Previous work:
-Conducted a comprehensive literature review on the environmental impacts of cryptocurrency mining, urbanization, and metal mining in Central America.
-Spring 2025 Semester:
Transitioning to geospatial mapping and analysis, focusing on land-use changes and biodiversity hotspots affected by crypto urbanism and mining activities.
Research Objectives
1. Map Disrupted Landscapes: Use GIS and remote sensing to identify and analyze areas affected by crypto mining and urban expansion.
2. Investigate Environmental Justice Impacts: Explore the socio-environmental effects on local and Indigenous communities.
3. Propose Policy Solutions: Develop recommendations for sustainable governance of natural resources in the context of digital and industrial developments.
Role: Role of Undergraduate Apprentices
Undergraduate students will be integral to this interdisciplinary project, contributing to:
-Data Collection and Analysis: Supporting geospatial data collection and analyzing socio-environmental impacts using tools like Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS.
-Literature Reviews: Assisting in reviewing scholarship on crypto urbanism, mining impacts, and environmental governance.
-Mapping and Visualization: Creating detailed maps and visual models to illustrate land-use changes and ecological impacts.
-Community Engagement Research: Exploring qualitative and participatory data to understand local perspectives on environmental justice.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Participants will gain hands-on experience in:
-Geospatial Analysis: Developing skills in GIS tools, remote sensing, and spatial data visualization.
-Interdisciplinary Research: Engaging with frameworks from environmental science, urban planning, and social justice.
-Environmental Justice and Governance: Understanding the policy and equity dimensions of environmental challenges.
Qualifications: We seek motivated undergraduate students with a strong interest in environmental justice, digital transformations, and geospatial analysis. Ideal candidates should have experience or interest in:
-Geospatial Analysis: Proficiency in GIS tools (e.g., ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine).
-Programming and Data Analysis: Skills in Python, R, or similar for data manipulation and visualization.
-Environmental Science: Knowledge of biodiversity, urban ecology, or natural resource management.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Deibi Sibrian , Graduate Student
Hours: to be negotiated
Related website: https://ourenvironment.berkeley.edu/users/1730396