First Advisor

Vivek Shandas

Term of Graduation

Spring 2021

Date of Publication

5-26-2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Earth, Environment, & Society

Department

Earth, Environment, & Society

Language

English

Subjects

Environmental protection -- Oregon -- Zumwalt Prairie -- Citizen participation, Grassland conservation, Agent (Philosophy), Place (Philosophy)

DOI

10.15760/etd.7573

Physical Description

1 online resource (v, 202 pages)

Abstract

Shifting and often diminishing environmental conditions, due to climate change, resource loss, and ecosystem degradation, pose a significant concern to both social and ecological systems. The field of conservation science has attempted to address environmental threats through varying approaches, transitioning from fortress conservation and complete human exclusion to community-based and co-managed models which incorporate human actors and social dimensions in the conservation process. The latest iteration of conservation scholarship, place-based conservation, is deeply rooted in interdisciplinary, social scientific thinking, and calls for significant practitioner engagement with local knowledge, practices, social constructions, and place meanings. It is an approach which emphasizes situated socio-ecological conditions and capacities. Though place-based conservation holds great promise for inclusive, socially conscious, and ecologically effective practice, the field remains largely theoretical, and its effects have not been well studied through empirical research. This dissertation makes two notable contributions to the field of place-based conservation. Firstly, a novel boundary object framework is presented which can serve to guide research, and facilitate cross-disciplinary discussions among conservation scientists, bridging the gap between place-based theory and practice. Secondly, a conservation site, the Zumwalt Prairie and Preserve, is studied from three distinct angles: agency, sense of place, and knowledge. These studies elucidate key social dynamics influencing conservation behavior around the site and add empirical evidence to the field.

Rights

© 2021 Dana Elyse Hellman

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/35937

Download

Share

COinS