Visualizing Wildlife Conservation and Development in Southern Africa: A Multi-Optic Approach

摘要: The relationships between people and natural environments in coupled socio-ecological systems (SES) are complex. As complex adaptive with humans as one of the central drivers, SES exhibit non-linear behavior, multiple stable-states, path dependence, highly dynamic webs connectivity across domains scales. It should come no surprise therefore that efforts to push these towards greater sustainability challenging design execute, particularly resource constrained contexts competing actors. In this dissertation I examine conservation Zambia Namibia from perspectives vary along two gradients. Theoretically, my analyses based upon epistemologies ranging qualitative, interpretative relational explanations project outcomes, quantitative models spatially structured processes. Empirically, draw ethnographic methods seek develop a grounds-eye view reality, satellite-sensed data which capture large scale patterns at expense context detail. These poles bridged by an information framework employs meta-language vision describe bound different forms understanding, emphasis on rich articulations enable dialogue knowledges.Part engages long-standing debate about community-based management (CBNRM), together protected areas has been core strategies countries southern Africa. Since advent CBNRM mid-1980s, scholars practitioners have sought explain uneven performance programs. Most assessments underlying principles conservation, local social ecological contexts, connections larger political historical patterns. argue analysis potential pitfalls also requires understanding institutional history internal dynamics projects implement reforms. Drawing theory development ethnography public policy, rise fall CONASA, second-generation operated early 2000s. CONASA was constituted merger organizations discourses create continuity previous projects. Its ambitious suite activities included support for household livelihoods, management, policy analysis, advocacy, enterprises local, national, transboundary levels. While individual were largely successful, CONASA's hybrid origins logframe-centric created fissures its holistic daily operations, hindered ability broader narrative maintain key alliances. This study illustrates importance interplay operational order fully appreciate possibilities limitations project-mode conservation.While ground's eye highlights nuances process, bird's reveals pattern emergent behavior Part II, present new spatial modeling method location orbiting satellites analyze spatiotemporal movement data. Advances GPS technology both opportunities ecology well need analytical tools can deal growing volume ancillary variables associated each location. Time Local Convex Hull (T-LoCoH), is home range construction algorithm incorporates time into aggregation kernels. integrated Euclidean space using scaling individual's characteristic velocity, enabling utilization distributions temporal partitions contours differentiate phase time-use metrics. test T-LoCoH against simulated dataset provide illustrative examples springbok Namibia. incorporation expands concept beyond traditional density gradient time, opening door applications ecology. Hulls means characterization interactions individuals, many aspects population biology, including competition, predation, reproduction, optimization, disease transmission. Classic measures association intersection static estimates counts matched locations, but advances characterizing properties association. metrics temporally overlapping hulls reveal intensity interaction raw terms corrected revisitation, lags. Similarly, metric proportion enclosed points constructed combined set locations distribution sharing entire period. Illustrative methodology provided elephant tracking Tembe Elephant Park South Plotting map, over other hull novel be basis further study. offer promising approach exploring their covariates.Parts II illustrate ways pull out characterize systems, scales appropriate question. challenge seeing 'whole picture' not only disciplines perspectives, do so dialog. Central bridging nodes knowledge detail accessible meaningful abstractions, embedding contextual inform extensions domains, making visible vantage through produced disseminated.