Joseph Bryan

Joseph Bryan is a doctoral candidate in Geography at UC Berkeley. His research examines the role of international human rights standards in shaping the formulation and recognition of indigenous land rights in eastern Nicaragua's Miskito Coast, home to the largest complex of forest and marine ecosystems in Central America. The ecology of this region faces numerous threats from mining, logging and commercial fishing. In particular his work will focus on the role that a variety of participatory mapping projects play in this process. Joseph is Researcher and Documentarian for the Indigenous Communities Mapping Initiative which provides support for the development of four native community mapping projects. He also consults for the Western Shoshona Defense Project. Joseph will continue to work on participatory education and other collaborative projects with indigenous peoples and conservationists. This work is as much about helping indigenous peoples document their knowledge and use of the environment as it is about rethinking conservation in light of the diverse ways people relate to their surroundings.