Dr. Kerry Brondo

I am an environmental anthropologist and faculty member of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Memphis. I have spent the last 14 years conducting research on land legislation, conservation policy and afroindigenous rights to resources on the north coast of Honduras (see Land Grab: Green Neoliberalism, Gender and Garifuna Resistance - http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/Books/bid2417.htm). Recently my focus has moved towards analyzing the relationship between conservation “voluntourism,” mangrove destruction and climate change within the rapidly urbanizing tourist economy on Utila. I wrote and presented a conference paper on preliminary research in this area at the 2012 Society for Applied Anthropology annual meetings, entitled “A Vacation of Mud, Blood, and Sweat: Voluntouring to Save the Swamper,” and am currently collaborating with Kanahau and other conservationists on Utila and in the States to develop a larger research project on this topic. Having spent the summer of 2011 on Utila with Steve and Andrea of Kanahau, I can attest to their impressive command of local flora and fauna, conservation policy, and sociocultural context. Kanahau provides researchers with the logistical support necessary to complete research projects of all levels and opens doors to collaborative conservation efforts on the island. On a personal note, Steve and Andrea are also simply wonderful souls and you will enjoy getting to know and work with them during your time on Utila.

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Keri Vacanti Brondo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator
Department of Anthropology, University of Memphis
Chair, Committee on Applied, Practicing and Public Interest Anthropology American Anthropological Association - 2012