Eliana Miskey's ARIA project: Conservation and Society in East Africa
Conservation and Society in East Africa is intimately tied to the Institutional Canopy of Conservation partnership program, which aims to identify the most effective strategies for Community-Based Conservation efforts in East Africa. I-CAN addresses critical issues related to public policy and the rights and obligations of communities in managing and utilizing the natural resources on which they depend. In my involvement with this project, I categorized and assembled important data from government websites, existing theses, and publications to comparatively assess the workings of various conservancies in Kenya and Tanzania and to attain a more thorough understanding of community livelihoods, land tenure and subdivision, property systems, and conservation-community linkages.
When I first learned about ARIA, it seemed like the perfect way to experience research in a professional setting for the first time. I was excited by the possibility of working directly with an expert anthropologist and felt that this kind of working environment would directly impact my own research interests as I began working on my undergraduate thesis. ARIA was the guiding light that brought me into the world of conservation – not only did it affirm to me my interest in community conservation programs, but it also became an excellent foundation from which I could develop my own research interests. Finally, ARIA provided me with the opportunity to learn about the world of research in a protected setting. I was not overwhelmed with the reality of having to design my own research project right off the bat, yet I still benefitted from the process of research and learned a great deal from my supervisor.
At the beginning of ARIA, I knew I was interested in environmental Anthropology; however, I was not yet drawn to a specific sub-field. Slowly, as I became involved with the I-CAN project and was introduced to community-based conservation, I became interested in a stream of global development theory that believes environmental conservation and human development are not contradictory processes. This sparked my interest in developmental solutions that are beneficial to the environment and to the communities that reside in and near these natural spaces. I wanted to understand more about the delicate equilibrium between humans and nature, and more specifically, to learn how such an equilibrium exists at the center of human life, as it has become evident as climate change continues to unfold around us.
One of the highlights of my work this summer was my contribution to my supervisor’s publication in Nomadic Peoples. Using GIS software, I engineered a map of Eastern Africa which displayed important topographical features like mountains, national parks, and conservancies as well as specific study sites relevant to the I-CAN project. This map functioned as a visual aid which accompanied a written piece by Professor John Galaty and Dr. Jacques Pollini on East African pastoralists. Through the process of creating this map I became familiar with the program QIS and learned a great deal about the distinct geographical makeup of one of the most important ecosystems on Earth.
One of the things I found most challenging about my internship was staying motivated while working from home. This was made worse when I hit several dead ends in my research and had a difficult time communication with my supervisor over Zoom. To overcome some of these issues, I turned to nature, which has always acted as a foundation for me in times of frustration and stress. Another way I dealt with this was to share my experience with my roommate, who found herself in a similar situation and who was there to reassure me that I was working proficiently and successfully despite some minor setbacks.
Most importantly, ARIA has given me confidence in my ability to work independently and intuitively. Going forward, I know I will feel more comfortable launching into my own research and will have a better idea of how to formulate relevant research questions. Moreover, ARIA has helped me focus in on a potential area of interest for my future studies, something I will pursue through the rest of my undergrad and potentially through graduate school.
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to Mr. Harry Samuel who made my ARIA internship a reality this summer. Without your generous contribution to the Arts Internship Office, my participation in the I-CAN project would not have been possible. I am grateful that I was given this valuable opportunity to learn and know that I will feel the lasting impacts of your donation for many years to come!
