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A Socioeconomic Cross-National Comparison of Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Projects

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A Socioeconomic Cross-National Comparison of Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Projects WESTERN CONSERVATION AS AN ACCIDENTAL VECTOR FOR CAPITALISM: A SOCIOECONOMIC CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARISON OF IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN CONSERVATION PROJECTS by SIERRA MICHELLE DEUTSCH A DISSERTATION Presented to the Environmental Studies Program and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy June 2017 DISSERTATION APPROVAL PAGE Student: Sierra Michelle Deutsch Title: Western Conservation as an Accidental Vector for Capitalism: A Socioeconomic Cross-National Comparison of Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Projects This dissertation has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Environmental Studies Program by: Richard York Chairperson Jocelyn Hollander Core Member Jill Harrison Core Member Ryan Light Core Member Lamia Karim Institutional Representative and Scott L. Pratt Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded June 2017 ii © 2017 Sierra Michelle Deutsch iii DISSERTATION ABSTRACT Sierra Michelle Deutsch Doctor of Philosophy Environmental Studies Program June 2017 Title: Western Conservation as an Accidental Vector for Capitalism: A Socioeconomic Cross-National Comparison of Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation Projects As sites of global environmental degradation continue to emerge and pose significant threats to life on Earth, the world's natural resource managers persist in attempts to mitigate and reverse this degradation. While approaches to conservation have evolved over the years to include locals in the policy-making process, the experiences of those policies by locals - once in place - are often overlooked. This dissertation examines the socioeconomic and political changes associated with conservation projects from the perspectives and experiences of the people most affected by these projects. Through 128 individual interviews, 25 focus group discussions, and participant observation, I compare two approaches to Irrawaddy dolphin conservation: one in Myanmar that focuses on preservation of livelihoods and the other in Cambodia that focuses on economic development. I endeavor to bring local experiences and perceptions of these projects to the forefront to examine their impacts on livelihoods and to help identify potential gaps in policy intentions and effects. I also draw on political ecology theory to assess and critique the relationship of capitalism to international conservation. After explaining the unique issues and barriers associated with this project, I lay out the direct socioeconomic and ecological effects of each conservation project by comparing participant experiences and perceptions of the projects with those of conservation officials. I then compare conservation projects to examine the indirect effects of each approach. I trace the pathway of the capitalist conception of nature as iv commodities upward from 'developed' countries to its global institutionalization through the process of eco-governmentality and then downward to 'developing' countries through the delivery system of NGO governmentality. I explain how Myanmar blocked this process while Cambodia embraced it and attribute the apparent shift from a 'communal ideology' to a 'consumerist ideology' in Cambodia, and lack of such a shift in Myanmar, to these opposing tactics. I then focus on the capitalist approach to conservation in Cambodia and show how it has led to the subsequent exacerbation of environmental and social problems it intended to fix. Lastly, I offer specific recommendations for each project, as well for international conservation in general, based on findings. v CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Sierra Michelle Deutsch GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA DEGREES AWARDED: Doctor of Philosophy, Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy, 2017, University of Oregon Master of Arts, Sociology, 2017, University of Oregon Graduate Certificate, Marine Resource Management, 2013, Oregon State University Master of Science, Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University Bachelor of Science, Marine Biology/Zoology, Humboldt State University AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Political Ecology Environmental Sociology Environmental Justice Social Movements Globalization and Development International and Indigenous Issues Marine Biology Marine Resource Management Human Dimensions in Marine Conservation Wildlife Policy and Law PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Graduate Teaching Fellow, University of Oregon, 2010-2014 & 2016-2017 Science Literacy Program Graduate Fellow, University of Oregon, 2014 & 2016 vi Project Co-Manager with Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA)-Nepal; Earthbag home building, 2015 Volunteer teacher, Phaung Daw Oo Monastic Education High School of Myanmar, 2014-2015 Lead Protected Species Observer/Protected Species Observer, LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Summers of 2012, 2013, & 2015 Platform Observer, National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2009-2011 Teaching Assistant, Texas A&M University at Galveston, 2007-2008 Camp Coordinator/Instructor, Sea Camp at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Summers of 2006, 2007, & 2008 Field Staff, New Zealand Dolphins Project, Earthwatch Institute, 2007 Research Assistant, Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS), Galveston, 2004- 2007 Research Technician, Right whale aerial monitoring project, Wildlife Trust, 2004-2005 Biological Technician; North Coast Survey (NCS), Gray Whale Photo- Identification Project, and Gray Whale Ecology and Distribution Project, Marine Mammal Education and Research Program (MMERP), Humboldt State University, 2000-2003 Research Technician, Pinniped-Salmonid Project, Marine Mammal Education and Research Program (MMERP) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 2002-2003 GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS: Carolyn M. Stokes Memorial Scholarship, University of Oregon, 2016-2017 The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Travel and Research Grant, University of Oregon, 2011, 2014, & 2017 Small Grant, Sociology Department, University of Oregon, 2014, 2015, & 2016 vii Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) Research Award, Tokyo Foundation, 2015 SYLFF Graduate Fellowship for International Research, Tokyo Foundation, Oregon University System (OUS), 2014-2015 Southeast Asian Studies Award, Graduate School, University of Oregon, 2014 The Coeta and Donald Barker Foundation Scholarship, University of Oregon, 2010-2011, 2012-2013, & 2017 Sociology Department Travel Grant, University of Oregon, 2011 Erma Lee and Luke Mooney Graduate Student Travel Grant, Texas A&M University, 2006 & 2007 Graduate Program Enhancement Fund, Texas A&M University, 2006 & 2007 Marine Biology Department Grant, Texas A&M University, 2005, 2006, & 2007 Research and Graduate Studies Department Grant, Texas A&M University, 2007 International Education Study Grant, Texas A&M University, 2007 Merit Fellowship, Office of Graduate Studies, Texas A&M University, 2005- 2006 PUBLICATIONS: Deutsch, Sierra, 2017. "The Struggle of a Marginalized Community for Ethnic Renewal: The Whale Hunters of Neah Bay." Environmental Sociology Online, DOI: 10.1080/23251042.2017.1298183 Deutsch, Sierra, 2015. "The Socioeconomic Dimension of Irrawaddy Dolphin Conservation." In Voices from the Sylff Community, The Tokyo Foundation. Available from: http://www.tokyofoundation.org/sylff/16088 Deutsch, Sierra, Heidi Pearson, and Bernd Würsig. 2014. "Development of Leaps in Dusky Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) Calves." Behaviour 151 (11): 1555-1577. viii Weir, Jody, Sierra Deutsch, and Heidi Pearson. 2009. "Dusky Dolphin Calf Rearing." In Dusky Dolphins: Master Acrobats off Different Shores. B. Würsig and M. Würsig Eds. Academic/Elsevier Press. Deutsch, S., 2008. "Behavioral Development of Dusky Dolphins." Master's thesis. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am sincerely grateful to the 288 participants, without whom this project would not have been possible, who put their trust in me and took the time to speak with me. I'm also deeply appreciative for my committee members who offered support and invaluable advice throughout the research and writing process. I especially thank my committee chair Richard York for his patience and assistance as I navigated my way through the planning, transcription, translation, coding, and writing processes. I also thank Jocelyn Hollander, Jill Harrison, Ryan Light, and Lamia Karim for their advice before leaving for the field, as well as on issues I encountered in the field and during the writing process. Thanks also go to my interpreters, who not only assisted in interpretation, but in organizing transportation and locating participants, as well as offering advice. Additional thanks go to my transcribers and the translators who translated the transcriptions. I'm also grateful to Mulung Hsu and Marshall Kramer for their incredible advice and assistance while planning the Myanmar portion of my field research. Several individuals were vital in helping me stay grounded and supporting me throughout this project. I especially thank my partner Randy Tullous for his emotional support, encouragement, and companionship through each step in this process. I also deeply appreciate the love and support of my mom Carol and stepfather
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