Joseph Hamm

Profile

I am a PhD student in the Sustainability Research Institute, as part of the ESRC White Rose DTP programme. My project explores the complex role that incentives play in conservation, specifically in the context of human-carnivore relations.

My background is primarily ecological. I have a BSc in Zoology and an MSc(Res) in Biology, and my past research includes the foraging ecology of scarlet macaws and methods by which to protect sea-turtle nests. For my PhD, however, I will be focusing on the nexus of ecology, economics, and environmental justice in the context of human-carnivore relations in Ruaha, Tanzania.

Research interests

• Human-carnivore relations
• Equitable conservation
• Environmental justice
• Applied ecology

My project straddles the natural and social sciences. Using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative approaches, I explore the effectiveness and social implications of conservation performance payments for carnivores.

The Ruaha-Rungwa landscape of southern Tanzania represents an ideal case-study, with high rates of human-carnivore conflict and the existence of a community-led camera trapping programme that links the presence of wildlife to various incentives. In collaboration with international NGOs and Tanzanian researchers, I aim to produce research which benefits both people and wildlife.

Qualifications

• MA Social Research, University of Leeds
• MSc(Res) Biology, University of St Andrews
• BSc(Hons) Zoology, University of Leicester

Research groups and institutes

• Sustainability Research Institute
• Environment and Development
• Economics and Policy for Sustainability