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| Archi Rastogi, Ph.D.
B.Sc. Biological Sciences (2004) University of Delhi, India; M.Sc. Environment Management (2006) Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India; Ph.D. (Renewable Resources), McGill University (2013).
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Ph.D. Thesis:
UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF TIGER CONSERVATION IN INDIA
Abstract
Tiger conservation represents many of the challenges facing biodiversity conservation internationally. It requires the protection of a potentially-dangerous predator in forested ecosystems, which are also utilized by some of the poorest human populations for survival and livelihoods. In such contexts, establishing exclusive protected areas for tiger conservation can antagonize local stakeholders, yet their support is crucial to successfully managing the protected areas. This thesis presents exploratory research into the social dimensions of tiger conservation in India, and ultimately informs policy and management of biodiversity conservation in a variety of contexts.
Conservation policy and management is known to be affected by the viewpoints of professionals, often realized through advocacy coalitions. A quantitative study combining the Q-Method with a traditional survey of conservation professionals in India revealed five dominant viewpoints of tiger conservation: 1) community-centered; 2) tiger-centered; 3) science and tourism-led; 4) instrumental approach; and 5) moral-centred. The results offer insight on areas where conservation professionals agree, and may help to frame more effective tiger conservation policy discourse in India.
Focussing on Corbett Tiger Reserve, India, a qualitative study explores the socio-political process through which local stakeholders articulate their concerns regarding tiger conservation, in order to elicit desired reactions from park management. The results provide insight to the local-level socio-political processes which make tiger conservation outcomes susceptible to local pressures.
A quantitative assessment of the social capital that exists within three villages located around Corbett Tiger Reserve offers important insights on the ways in which social capital is affected by tiger conservation, and the extent to which this can affect the potential for collective action for, or against, tiger conservation objectives.
A qualitative study into the social and ecological impacts associated with intensive wildlife tourism on a village bordering Corbett Tiger Reserve sheds light on the linkages between the ecological, socio-economic and institutional aspects affecting tiger conservation objectives. Rapid and unplanned tourism expansion has created financial disparity among the village residents, affecting their solidarity and creating perverse challenges for village institutions seeking to reduce conflict, highlighting the local-level complexity of tiger conservation.
This research considers the politics, policy and practice of tiger conservation in India. The results will be useful in both administering short-term solutions within the existing policy framework, and in devising long-term trajectories for tiger conservation policy and management in India. The results may also assist policy makers to frame more appropriate conservation policies, by better projecting the potential socio-political implications of tiger conservation.
Awards and Scholarships:
Graduate Excellence Fellowship (2010-2011, 2011-12), McGill University.
International Travel Grant (2010-2011, 2011-2012), McGill University.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, McGill Internal Award (2009-10).
Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel Award (2009, 2010)
Tomlinson Centennial Fellowship in Forest Ecology (2008-11), McGill University.
Provost's Graduate Fellowship (2008), McGill University.
Principal's Graduate Fellowship (2008), McGill University.
International Doctoral Award (2008-2011), McGill University.
Demonstrator Positions and Teaching Assistantships:
Teaching Fellow for the ‘Macdonald Innovations for Teaching Improvement’ program (April- December 2009).
Organisms 1, Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University (Fall semester 2009).
Comparative Plant Biology, Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University (Winter semester 2009).
Project Publications:
Rahman, H.M.T., Saint Ville, A., Song, A.M., Po, J.Y.T., Berthet, E., Brammer, J.R., Brunet, N.D., Jayaprakash, L.G., Lowitt, K.N., Rastogi, A., Reed, G. and Hickey, G.M. (2017). A framework for analyzing institutional gaps in natural resource governance. International Journal of the Commons 11(2): 823–853.
Rastogi, A., Hickey, G.M., Anand, A. Badola, R. and Hussain, S.A. (2015). Wildlife-tourism, local communities and tiger conservation: A village-level study in Corbett Tiger Reserve, India. Forest Policy and Economics 61: 11–19.
Temby, O., Rastogi, A., Sandall, J., Cooksey, R. and Hickey, G.M. (2015). Inter-agency trust and communication in the transboundary governance of Pacific salmon fisheries. Review of Policy Research 32(1): 79-99.
Rastogi, A., Thapliyal, S. and Hickey, G.M. (2014). Community action and tiger conservation: Assessing the role of social capital. Society & Natural Resources 27(12): 1271-1287.
Rastogi, A., Hickey, G.M., Badola, R. and Hussain, S.A. (2014). Understanding the local socio-political processes affecting conservation management outcomes in Corbett Tiger Reserve, India. Environmental Management 53(5): 913-929.
Rastogi, A., Hickey, G.M., Badola, R. and Hussain, S.A. (2013). Diverging viewpoints on tiger conservation: A Q-Method study and survey of conservation professionals in India. Biological Conservation 161: 182–192.
Rastogi, A., Hickey, G.M., Badola, R. and Hussain, S.A. (2012). Saving the Superstar: A review of tiger conservation approaches in India. Journal of Environmental Management 113: 328-340.
Rastogi, A., Badola, R., Hussain, S.A. and Hickey, G.M. (2010). Assessing the utility of Stakeholder Analysis to Protected Areas management: The case of Corbett National Park, India. Biological Conservation 143(12): 2956-2964.
Activities:
Vice-President, Macdonald Campus Graduate Student Society, 2011-12, McGill University.
Member of the Founding Board for vision:mag, a WSC-SD publication.
Councilor at the Post Graduate Student Service Council for 2008-09, McGill University.
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