Agrobiodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge and Protected Area Management in the Rio Grande Valley, Jamaica and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Year

Location

Organization

Role

Description

January 2018- present

Rio Grande Valley, Jamaica

Jamaica - South Africa Joint Scientific And Technological Cooperation/ Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust

Lead Researcher - working with a team of researchers to assess the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) of the Windward Maroons of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, Jamaica and the indigenous peoples of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as it relates to protected area management and biodiversity conservation for both and farming and hunting/ gathering practices for the former to improve conservation particularly in light of climate change and to address issues of marginalization.

The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) manages the Blue and John Crow Mountains (BJCM) National Park and World Heritage Site on behalf of the Government of Jamaica. The Rio Grande Valley located between the Blue and the John Crow Mountains is an area of exceptional natural and cultural heritage significance. The over-arching purpose of the research to be conducted under this contract is to better understand IKS as it relates to the Maroon communities in the Rio Grande Valley and the management of the Rio Grande watershed, the National Park and the World Heritage Site and to make recommendations for improved management of the area and its resources.