Indigenous peoples influenced landscapes are among the most contested in Latin America. These landscapes attract a host of investors, including loggers, gold miners, and cattle farmers. The arrival of investors invariably leads to the removal of forests, bringing profits from within these spaces, at the expense of the landscapes’ intrinsic value. In this talk, Anthony Cummings provides insights into his ongoing research into the intrinsic value Guyana’s Indigenous peoples have created within their landscapes. Using data and evidence obtained in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, the talk examines the distribution of ecosystem services, swidden agriculture plot change processes and wildlife associations within Indigenous peoples influenced landscapes and how they may be impacted by investment. 

ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKER:
ANTHONY CUMMINGS (Ph.D., Syracuse University). Cummings is an associate professor of geospatial information sciences at the University of Texas Dallas' School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. His research focuses on human-environment interactions, remote sensing, ecology and biostatistics. Cummings was awarded the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences – Outstanding Teaching Comet Award in 2014 and 2016 and he was nominated for the President’s Teaching Excellence Award in Undergraduate Instruction in 2018.

DISCUSSANT:
MARIAN THORPE, PLAS Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University

MODERATOR:
JAVIER GUERRERO, PLAS Acting Director, Princeton University

View/Download our E-flyer!