The School of Marine Sciences presents
Dr. Anthony Charles
St. Mary’s University
Place-based communities the world over face local environmental threats. In response, many communities are acting as stewards of their local environments and resources, undertaking conservation initiatives that help secure local livelihoods, and contribute to larger-scale environmental improvement. However, the conservation successes of local communities tend to be little known and receive little practical and policy support from governments. This has been the case despite the fact that the historical evolution of conservation and sustainability thinking reinforces the role of local-level communities. Given this motivation, and the successes already achieved, how can we increase the focus in conservation policy and practice on local communities, and ensure an increased role for communities in conservation governance? This presentation explores that question, examining the community role in conservation and sustainability, as well as policy responses.
Anthony (Tony) Charles is a professor at Saint Mary’s University. His research focuses on fisheries, oceans and coasts, including studies of integrated ocean management, small-scale fisheries, community-based management, climate impacts and adaptation, sustainability of fisheries and coasts, and human dimensions of ecosystem-based management and marine protected areas. He leads the Community Conservation Research Network, a global initiative that studies and supports local communities engaging in conservation for sustainable livelihoods. Dr. Charles is a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, a member of the Fisheries Expert Group in IUCN’s Commission on Ecosystem Management, and an advisor to organizations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the OECD, and the Canadian government.
Video conferencing is available. Please contact Carol Hamel (carol.hamel@maine.edu) for more information.
Host: Josh Stoll
All School of Marine Science seminars are in Room 354, Aubert Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Fridays. Refreshments are available at 10:45 a.m. A voluntary brown bag lunch involving the speaker will follow the seminar to generate interdisciplinary discussions around the presented marine science topic.
For more information, contact Susan Brawley at brawley@maine.edu.