I am a geographer in the nature-society tradition, whose research has examined the relationship between park management approach and conservation effect, particularly the extent to which participatory, ‘bottom-up’ co-management can not only protect biodiversity, but also local people’s livelihoods. Many of my publications are based on studies which employ a political ecology framework and ethnographic field research. I have worked with fishing communities in New England and the Florida Keys in the United States and Swahili-speaking communities living near marine protected areas in Kenya. Africa is my regional area of interest and expertise. Most recently I have used memoirs, newspapers, and radio broadcasts for Africa- focused, non-field based people-environment studies and sought out exceptional students with shared research interests for mentoring.