Sociology In Action

CEP Fellowship & Mexican Migration-Environment project

2010-06-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to a new project this summer in collaboration with the Center for Environment & Population (http://www.cepnet.org/), CU-Boulder Economics graduate student Sheena Murray (https://webfiles.colorado.edu/slmurray/) and my IBS colleague and Geographer, Fernando Riosmena (http://www.colorado.edu/ibs/POP/riosmena/).

We will examining environmental aspects of Mexican migration making use of data from the Mexican Migration Project (http://mmp.opr.princeton.edu/)

More on the CEP fellowship program here:
http://www.cepnet.org/CEP2010FellowshipsAnnouncementWebPage.htm

Progress reports soon!

Population Association of America, 2010

2010-04-17T15:05:00.001-07:00

Just returning from the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America in Dallas. I presented new research on "Environmental Change and Risky Sex: Exploring through Livelihoods in Haiti." This paper, collaborative with John Reid-Hresko and Tom Dickinson, makes use of the Demographic and Health Survey for Haiti and we model risky sexual as related to local environmental change. The hypothesis is that, as households have fewer and fewer local natural resources from which to derive livelihoods, members may engage in transactional sex (as documented in other vulnerable settings). We do find that impoverished women in areas of very low natural resource availability are more likely to engage in risky sex as measured by sexual encounters without condoms. We continue to refine the analyses and will send out for peer review during summer months.

Ecosystem Services & Poverty Alleviation in Kenya

2010-04-17T15:04:00.003-07:00

Submitted a "Partership and Project Development" proposal to DFID's call for research to "Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation." I would work with The Nature Conservancy-Africa and the Green Belt Movement to develop a project modeling the socio-ecological system on the edge of Kenya's Mau Forest. Key would be the distinction between the human-environment connection in intervention villages (with reforestation and alternative livelihood efforts) and villages without such programs. We should hear results in early summer!

Ouch -- sunburn in Kenya’s deforested Mau Forest

2010-04-17T15:04:00.001-07:00

In early March, made a visit to Nairobi and Nakuru, Kenya, to meet with collaborators The Nature Conservancy and the GreenBelt Movement. I have been working with Kenyan consultants, Eco-Link, on the development of a baseline socio-economic survey to be implemented in intervention villages on the edge of the Mau Forest. The Green Belt Movement has been engaged with nursery-building, reforestation, and livelihood efforts in several villages, with support of TNC.

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) is an NGO that focuses on reforestation by engaging communities at the grassroots. The GBM supports groups such as that below to build nurseries and plant trees. In addition, there are efforts to expand livelihood activities beyond those requiring extractive use of the forest.

Proud nursery managers – note that this is in a location only accessible by foot, donkey or 4-wheel drive!

Lovely tree seedlings in re-usable Green Belt Movement bags – both are a source of real pride for village residents.

Me asking questions of the wonderful project manager, Ezekiel. He took such care with me during the visit, always keeping me safe since I'm unfamiliar with the social terrain (this is my first project in Kenya, I usually work in South Africa).

This visit was during the long rainy season (March-May) so all is quite lush although they've had severe drought conditions the past two years. Many of the seedlings in the nursery are about to be planted to capture the short-term moisture bounty.

Beehives that are part of the effort to find alternative ways to make income.

Donkeys do everything – and often look very hungry.

Believe it or not, THIS is the Mau forest. See why I got a sunburn?

Local residents need the forest as a source of energy for cooking.

This pile of fuelwood belongs to the woman above. She wasn't happy to have her picture taken.

Illegal charcoal making is a primary livelihood activity. Trees are cut down, and the wood smothered in a homemade kiln such as we stumbled upon here. The wood doesn't combust, so becomes charcoal and is sold at local markets to be used as cooking fuel. In our survey, nearly half of respondents noted charcoal as their primary livelihood activity -- no wonder there are no trees – but there simply aren't options for generation of the income needed to feed the family. Agricultural production has recently suffered severely due to drought. Vicious circle.

An eroded Mau forest hillside.

A Green Belt Movement / Nature Conservancy seedling. There are nearly 10,000 planted in this section of the forest. Even The Nature Conservancy – a typically biologically-based conservation organization – understands that without finding alternative ways for local villagers to sustain their families, these seedlings won't make it to full grown trees.

In the distance, Lake Naivasha, fed by the "water tower" which is the Mau forest. The lake is famous for its flamingos – which are in peril due to deforestation on the hillsides above.

Downtown Ngong Hills has all one could need: an electronics store, hair salon, downtown meeting room, ATM ("MPesa is banking through cell phones) and a bar.

Climate Change, Gender and Migration

2009-12-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

Recently finished the first draft of a book chapter for UNESCO, collaboratively with Emmanuel David, a post-doc researcher with PhD from CU-Boulder. Our chapter explores the intersections of literature on gender/livelihoods/migration and disaster/gender. The intent is to consider the ways climate-change related migration may be differentially experienced by men and women. It was a fascinating project -- a hard one since there's little scholarship combining these factors. Much work remains to be done.

Click here for our working paper.

I hope to soon undertake original research making use of a gender lens to consider migration-environment connections.

Pop-Env at Colegio de Mexico

2009-12-29T22:53:00.000-08:00

Certainly scholarly interest in the connection between demographic dynamics and environmental context is on the rise -- I can only hope it’s in response to the real need of solid research to inform policy response to critical issues such as climate change!

There are exciting new developments at Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City. In Dec 2009, the Population Center at the “COLMEX”, in collaboration with UNFPA and CONAPO, organized an international workshop on “The Demographic Factor in the Contemporary Environmental Crisis.” Check out the program here!

The meeting was fascinating – covering a wide range of topics including theory linking demography-environment, health, inequality, livelihoods, and gender.

I contributed two presentations – the first representing more of a “think piece” based on a chapter drafted for UNESCO, in collaboration with Emmanuel David. The topic was “Climate Change, Migration, and Gender” and the work brings together several disparate, but complementary, bodies of literature to consider future research and policy needs.

The second presentation offered a summary of results from my collaborative several projects undertaken with Wayne Twine of the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. These projects, focused on the natural resource implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, have been situated at the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site. In general, they reveal the importance of natural resources as a “safety net” among AIDS-impacted households

Carrying Capacity Dialogue at Steinbrenner Institute

2009-12-29T22:15:00.001-08:00

In Nov 2009, I was honored to be an invited speaker as researchers at the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research, at Carnegie Mellon University, continue their consideration of research on population-environment topics. The two-day dialogue explored three main topics:

1) Measures of U.S. resource consumption, including rates, amounts and origins of the resources.

2) Measures of U.S. food production and implications of population growth.

3) Measures of impacts of population growth on resources and quality of life.

My own presentation encouraged CMU scholars to move past simplistic representations of population-environment associations and to include more nuanced consideration of demographic and social processes. As examples, more careful consideration of the environmental aspects of immigration could yield more fruitful policy response as compared to building yet-higher border walls. Also, culture and environmental values as forces shaping consumption deserve central attention in consideration of society's ecological footprint.

IUSSP: Journey to Marrakech

2009-11-29T19:50:00.001-08:00

The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) held its meeting in Marrakech, Morocco this year. The union meets every four years and this was my second time in attendance. It’s a fascinating group of papers and people – one that’s far more international than the conferences of the U.S.-based Population Association of America. Because of that, population-environment scholarship tends to be far more represented at the IUSSP given its greater prominence within development inquiry.

IUSSP: http://www.iussp.org/

Population & Environment Session

2009-11-29T19:49:00.001-08:00

Within a session on “Population Pressure, Resource Use and Environmental Degradation”, I presented recent results from my collaborative work with Wayne Twine (Wits, South Africa) and Laura Patterson (graduate student, CU-Boulder). The work is based at the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site

http://web.wits.ac.za/Academic/Health/PublicHealth/Agincourt/agincourthome.htm

and examines natural resource use as related to food security among AIDS-impacted households. The session’s papers were:

Population dynamics, future food requirements and environmental impacts in sub-Saharan Africa • Barbara Boyle Torrey, Population Reference Bureau (PRB)

HIV/AIDS, food security and the role of the natural environment: evidence from the Agincourt health and demographic surveillance site in rural South Africa • Lori M. Hunter, University of Colorado at Boulder; Laura Patterson, University of Colorado at Boulder; Wayne Twine, University of the Witwatersrand

Environmental degradation, population pressure and health in South India: elite capture or poor information? • Monica Das Gupta, World Bank Group; Vijayendra Rao, World Bank Group; Radu Ban, World Bank Group

Estimating carbon and methane footprints from demographic and health survey data • Shea Rutstein, Macro International Inc.

Environment and Health Session

2009-11-29T19:45:00.000-08:00

I also had the opportunity to act as “discussant” for a session on Environment and Health. Here, I aimed to provide productive feedback for the authors and to bring the lessons learned within each paper together into a comprehensive contribution. The session’s papers were:

Environment & Health

Chair: Daniel Joseph Hogan, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Discussant: Lori M. Hunter, University of Colorado at Boulder

Influence of community environment and sanitary conditions of households on diarrhoea morbidity in an urban setting in Cameroon: the case of Yaounde and Douala • Félicien Fomekong, Institut National de la Statistique du Cameroun

Do integrated population, health and environment programs work? Gathering evidence using a quasi-experimental design. • Eckhard Kleinau, Analysis, Information Management & Communications Activity (AIM); Odile Randriamananjara, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); Fred Rosensweig, Training Resources Group, Inc

Diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, and fever among children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) • Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, University of Warwick

Urbanization, water and health in Brazil: aspects of dengue fever epidemics • Roberto Luiz do Carmo, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)

Beyond the conference venue

2009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Of course, when in Marrakech, one must explore!

I took two guided tours -- one to the "souks" (the central markets) and one to several local gardens -- and then explored on my own!

The Souks:

The gardens included a visit to Jardin Marjorelle:

http://www.jardinmajorelle.com/en/

Migration and Climate Change

2009-08-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Working on, what I believe is, an important proposal outlining a research project on migration as a livelihood strategy in rural South Africa --

Does variation in precipitation and temperature shape patterns of outmigration?

We can learn about the social implications of climate change by examining patterns of the recent past.

Sociology & the Golden Gate

2009-08-27T19:18:00.001-07:00

Just returned from the American Sociological Association meetings in San Francisco -- what a great city and what a great group of engaging scholars!

I would encourage anyone interested in Environmental Sociology to join the section's listserv:

To subscribe go to
http://listserv.brown.edu/archives/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=envirosoc&A=1

At the meeting:

Laura Patterson, Sociology graduate student at CU-Boulder, presented our collaborative research in South Africa on AIDS mortality and household food security.

I also acted as roundtable moderator for a great discussion with:

Research on community acceptance of wind energy
(Teelyn Mauney and Lenin Zhang, San Francis University)

Expanding Offshore Energy Production: Policy considerations
(Robert Gramling, Univ of Louisiana and William Freudenburg, UC-Santa Barbara)

A Tale of Two Sitings: Contentious Politics and Liquefied Natural gas Facilities in California
(Hilary Schaffer Boudet, Stanford University)

Open Letter to Oran Young, IHDP Scientific Committee Chair

2009-05-05T06:19:00.001-07:00

On the Open Meeting's first evening, a roundtable discussion was held on the question: "Science in the 21^st Century." I penned the following to Oran Young, IHDP's Executive Director which sums my perception of the conversation.

An open letter to Oran Young, Chair, IHDP Scientific Committee

The roundtable session on "Science for the 21^st Century" started off with an important statement -- the "old way of doing things" just wasn't working -- that the IHDP research community wasn't sufficiently organized, nor productive (?), to provide the answers necessary to inform current policy regarding the social dimensions of global environmental change. The question was posed, "What "new" questions are needed?"

Unfortunately, following this important and interesting beginning, the conversation moved toward the criticisms oft heard before – we lack sufficient funding, our institutions are not structured in ways that support interdisciplinary scholarship, etc. We know these things, so the question remains "now what?"

Before arguing for more funding or institutional change, I would contend that we need to develop coherent statements as to what social science has thus far taught us about the human dimensions and what questions remain. Armed with this information, we can more effectively lobby for the institutional change necessary to realize a larger proportion of research funding and/or work to convince university administrators of the importance of interdisciplinary work. Without such information, our community will continue along its disheveled path.

Audience members commented that the social science community doesn't have an outlet that garners public respect and media attention, much like two key outlets for natural science researchers. Others suggested that existing knowledge isn't sufficiently organized such that it represents a coherent body of knowledge – and that meta-analyses of research results around key questions would clarify gaps.

I suggested the later approach.

To be blunt, I find patently offensive the suggestion that the environmental social science community has not in the past decade or so moved toward some important understanding of the social processes leading to global environmental change – and of particular aspects of the social implications of such change.

Individuals from Santa Cruz to Milan to Johannesburg to Manila are churning away to study their pieces of the human dimensions puzzle. They diligently undertake literature reviews, raise external funding, mentor graduate students, belabor over their regression results and interview data, and publish in myriad peer-reviewed outlets – not all of which will ever reveal themselves in a single bibliographic database. Any question the IHDP community might want answered, it's likely that someone has produced at least early insight – at least the invention of part of that "wheel" might have had a start.

Let's not reinvent from scratch.

Examples arose later in the panel to illustrate my point.

In response to an audience question, someone noted that we need research on aesthetics – in particular, the ways in which aesthetics shape public acceptance (or not) of renewable energy. Although the literature is indeed still emerging, please see ……

Wüstenhagen^,R., M. Wolsink, and M.J. Burer. 2007. "Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept." Energy Policy. 35(5): 2683-2691.

Van der Horst, D., 2007. Nimby or not? Exploring the relevance of location and the politics of voiced opinions in renewable energy siting controversies. Energy Policy 35 (5): 2705-2714.

D. Bell, T. Gray and C. Haggett, The 'Social Gap' in wind farm citing decisions: explanations and policy responses, Environmental Politics 14 (2005), pp. 460–477

IHDP could shape future research down the most productive paths by offering a summary of current knowledge on public perception of renewable energy technologies.

Later, someone noted the importance of developing some research on the science-policy "gap" (although others criticize the use of "gap" as descriptive of the issue). Regardless, there are policy scientists that have spent careers examining the "gap," even "centers" of scholars that study this issue with regard to climate change in particular. Please see the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado at Boulder, for example, where scholars focus specifically on this gap as related to climate research and policy www.sciencepolicy.colorado.edu

My point is that environmental social science is so scattered across disciplines, across journals, across meetings, that there simply is no coherent presentation of 'state of the art' understanding on any of these topics. Further, there are no doubt thousands of environmental social scientists and humanists that do not identify as members of the IHDP community and yet have produced critical research on environmental values, ethics, preferences, human impacts, stakeholder participation in environmental policy making , environmental inequalities, and so on and so on.

Panels such as that at the IHDP may be able to generate a list of important "new" research questions, but please, oh please, don't charge off to undertake "new research" on these questions until we've undertaken a thorough, critical review of the wide variety of projects probably already devoted to that issue. Much like the IPCC mobilized the scientific community to *critically* evaluate state of the art understanding on key questions – it's time the IHDP do the same for the social dimensions. Gaps in our understanding will no doubt emerge, but our understanding of those gaps will at least be informed. Perhaps just as importantly, the research already produced by thousands of talented, hard-working, productive environmental social scientists will each contribute pieces to this critically important puzzle called the human dimensions.

IHDP: Inspiration & Frustration

2009-05-05T06:18:00.003-07:00

www.ihdp.org/om

I recently returned from the 7^th Open Meeting of the International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change research community in Bonn, Germany. The meeting's theme was the "Social Challenges of Global Change," and indeed, many challenges were outlined. My several days of attendance were both inspiring and frustrating.

On inspiration, there is much important work underway by environmental social scientists that sheds light on social causes and consequences of environmental change – with a particular focus on climate vulnerability and adaptation. Still, much work remains to be done.

On frustrating, given the urgency of the social-environmental crises facing our planet, the social science community lacks the organization required to answer critical policy questions. In my opinion, too much time and money continues to be spent on academic exercises that offer interesting intellectual puzzles but are too far removed from questions that need to be answered – and now. How might we reduce vulnerability to environmental change – particularly for those with already fragile livelihoods. What particular mitigation and/or adaptation strategies appear best suited for certain geographic areas and/or populations? How can we encourage cultural valuation of environmental goods such that behaviors and choices are characterized by social and environmental responsibility?

Environment @ Population Association of America

2009-05-05T06:18:00.001-07:00

www.popassoc.org

I just returned from the annual meeting of the Population Association of America, held this year in Detroit , Michigan. The several research sessions devoted to population-environment scholarship include:

Environment and Health

Economic Crises, Natural Disasters and Population Well-being

Population and Environmental Change

Environmental Exposures, Social Context and Reproductive Health

Anthropogenic Environmental Change

The overall quality of the research in this area has improved dramatically over the past decade and, as well, the sessions were very well attended – suggesting demographers are increasingly perhaps interested in considering the environmental dimensions.

Still, the PAA Presidential Address, offered by Kathleen Harris of UNC-Chapel Hill focused on the need for integrative health research incorporating social, behavioral, psychological and biological dimensions – with no explicit emphasis on environmental aspects. My concern is that mistaken conclusions may be drawn without consideration of these important dimensions – with policy recommendations/implications therefore also potentially missing key determinants of health.

New Research: AIDS & Environment, Environmental Perceptions

2009-05-05T06:16:00.001-07:00

Myself and collaborators have recently received publication acceptance on the following three manuscripts! Two are from collaborative research in South Africa, at the Agincourt field site. The third is with my Ph.D. Advisor, Michael White from Brown University. Please write if you'd like copies! lorimaehunter@comcast.net

Hunter, Lori M., Susan Strife, and Wayne Twine. Forthcoming. "Environmental Perceptions of Rural South African Residents: The Complex Nature of Environmental Concern." Society and Natural Resources. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/08941920.html

Abstract: The state of the local environment shapes the well-being of millions of rural residents in developing nations. Still, we know little of these individuals' environmental perceptions. This study analyzes survey data collected in an impoverished, rural region in northeast South Africa, to understand the factors that shape concern with local environmental issues. We use the "post-materialist thesis" to explore the different explanations for environmental concern in less developed regions of the world, with results revealing the importance of both cultural and physical context. In particular, gendered interaction with natural resources shapes perceptions, as does the local setting. Both theoretical and policy implications are discussed.

Hunter, Lori M., Wayne Twine and Aaron Johnson. Forthcoming. "Adult Mortality and Natural Resource Use in Rural South Africa: Evidence from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site." Society and Natural Resources. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/08941920.html

Abstract: There is little empirical evidence on the association between household experience with HIV/AIDS and shifts in the use of natural resources in developing countries, where residents of rural regions remain highly dependent on often-declining local supplies of natural resources. This study examines strategies with regard to fuelwood and water among impoverished rural South African households having experienced a recent adult mortality and those without such mortality experience. Quantitative survey data reveal higher levels of natural resource dependence among mortality-affected households, as well as differences in collection strategies. Qualitative interview data provide insight into subtle and complex adjustments at the household level, revealing that impacts vary by the role of the deceased within the household economy. Resource management and public health implications are explored.

Michael J. White and Lori M. Hunter. Forthcoming. "Public Perception of Environmental Issues in a Developing Setting: Environmental Concern in Coastal Ghana" Social Science Quarterly. http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=0038-494

Abstract: Objective: Balancing environmental quality with economic growth in less developed settings is clearly a challenge. Still surprisingly little empirical evidence has been brought to bear on the relative priority given environmental and socioeconomic issues among the residents themselves of such settings. This research explores such perceptions. Methods: We undertake survey research with 2500 residents of coastal Ghana on policy issues, focusing on environmental topics. Results: Our analyses reveal a significant amount of environmental awareness, with education and political engagement consistently predicting higher levels of concern. In addition, environmental issues are deemed important even when considered relative to other socioeconomic issues. Conclusion: In the end, we argue that our work sheds light on global environmentalism and the ways in which local populations in less developed settings prioritize social and environmental concerns. This work also has important policy implications since insight on local perceptions may help buttress policy responses designed to cope with global change.

Off to Germany !

2009-04-18T12:10:00.001-07:00

I am looking forward to upcoming attendance at the Open Meeting of the International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Research Community. The meeting is to be held in Bonn. There, I will be moderator for the opening plenary session on "Social Challenges and Demographic Change." I will also be presenting my research with Wayne Twine (South Africa) on HIV/AIDS, food security and natural resource use.

The research session is "Global Population Trends and Food Security"

Study on Land Carrying Capacity in Northeast China: Issues and Countermeasures
Presenter: Yan Wei, Xian University of Finance and Economics, China

The Effect of Demographic Components on the Situations and Trend of Food Security
in Mainland China
Presenter: Jiehua Lu, Beijing University, China

Examining Natural Resources and Food Security Through An HIV/AIDS Lens:
Lessons From the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in Rural South Africa
Presenter: Lori Hunter, University of Colorado at Boulder, United States

Relationships between livestock production, demographic change and natural resources in Africa
Presenter: Jeannette van de Steeg, ILRI, Kenya

Surface modelling of population density and food provision capacity of ecosystems in China
Presenter: Tian-Xiang Yue, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Land demand of food in the Philippines over the 20th century: non-linearities
in the face of continuous population growth
Presenter: Thomas Kastner, University of Groningen, Netherlands

Investigating the Role of Urban Agriculture in Poverty Alleviation
in Three Municipalities in Tanzania
Presenter: Jerry Ngailo, Uyole Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania

Snazzy Textbook

2009-04-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

I introduced a new textbook into the "big class" this semester -- SOC by Witt is a magazine-format book -- with engaging stories and photos.

The first chapter opens with a hamburger as illustration of our interdependence -- could you operate a ranch, tomato farm, and bakery simultaneously to create your own lunch?

Intro to Sociology

2009-04-18T12:00:00.001-07:00

Spring semester 2009 has been busy with "Introduction to Sociology," an overview of Sociological perspectives and topics presented to a class of about 480 students. We cover data and methods as well as a variety of topics including deviance, the family, race/ethnicity, gender, global inequality and social change.