Madison Stevens

PhD Candidate,  Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies (Minors in Environmental Science and Political Science), Franklin University, Switzerland

 

I am currently a PhD candidate at the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr. David Boyd and Dr. Janette Bulkan. My research interests center on the intersection of human rights and conservation, examining the implementation of rights-based approaches to protected areas. For my dissertation research, I employ qualitative ethnographic methods and a political ecology lens to understand the governance dimensions of community forests in Uttarakhand, India. I am also involved in collaborative projects focused on the equity dimensions of climate adaptation and the use of evidence in conservation planning. I hold a BA in Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies from Franklin University, Switzerland, in 2015, where my thesis highlighted Indigenous land rights and conflict in Uganda. My professional background includes a decade of experience working for conservation nonprofit organizations, notably as an Education Media Specialist and Logistics Coordinator with Polar Bears International since 2011. Volunteer and work opportunities with a range environmental initiatives have taken me all over the world in recent years, including as an experiential educator in the sub-Arctic (Parks Canada), southern India (the Lyanna Project), and South Africa (Conservation Global and Franklin University Switzerland); a participant in an international conference on climate change in Antarctica in 2011; and a researcher and journalist studying sustainable development and conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. When not working, I aim to spend my days playing outside, immersed in appreciation for wild places everywhere.

Keywords:
conservation governance, human rights, stewardship, political ecology, protected areas, community forest management, community conservation, co-management, environmental law, conservation evidence, climate adaptation

 

Awards and Distinctions:

Centre for Community Engaged Learning and UBC Public Scholars’ Research to Action Grant recipient (2020)

UBC Public Scholar Award (2019 – Present)

Mitacs Globalink Research Award recipient (2019)

Vanier Scholarship Finalist (2019)

Four Year Fellowship, University of British Columbia (2018)

Rhodes Scholarship Finalist (2016)

Forum on Education Abroad’s Undergraduate Research Award recipient (2014)

Life Long Learning Scholarship, Franklin University Switzerland (2012 – 2014)

Academic Publications:

Stevens, M. (in review). Many Mountain Paths: Understanding Stewardship and Change in Van Panchayat Community Forests, Uttarakhand, India. In J. Bulkan, J. Palmer, M. Hobley, & A. M. Larson (Eds.), Handbook on Community Forestry. Routledge.
 
Adler, C, Wester, P, Bhatt, I […] Stevens, M (Contributing Author). (in review). Cross-Chapter Paper 5: Mountains. Second Order Draft. IPCC WGII (Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability) Sixth Assessment Report. 
 
Stevens, M. (2016). Cultivating a Stewardship Ethic in Youth. Tundra Times, Fall 2016 Edition. 14-15. Accessible at: https://polarbearsinternational.org/media/2864/2016_winter_tundra_times.pdf
 
Stevens, M (Polar Bears International). (2015). Growing Up Polar Bear: The Story of a Polar Bear Family in a Warming Arctic. Polar Bears International iTunes U, Apple iBooks. Accessible at: https://books.apple.com/gb/book/growing-up-polar-bear/id1050536132
 
Stevens, M. (2013) Lara Ngom ii Acoli: Identifying Root Causes and the Impact of Cultural Cataclysm on Land Conflict Resolution in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda.” (available in English and Acoli languages) SIT Digital Collections: Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. Accessible at: https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/1528/

Conference and Professional Presentations:

Stevens, M. 2018. Towards a Framework for sustainable community conservation in Indigenous contexts. Integrated Network for Social Sustainability Graduate Symposium. Charlotte, NC, USA.

Stevens, M. 2014. Identifying Root Causes and the Impact of Cultural Cataclysm on Land Conflict Resolution in Nwoya District, Northern Uganda. Plenary speech in acceptance of the Undergraduate Research Award. Forum on Education Abroad’s 10th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA. Accessible at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1u0KdbD5vM