The goal of the reading list is to help well-meaning non-Indigenous folks like myself educate ourselves on the colonial, white supremacist, and imperialist roots of biodiversity conservation around the world. Many of us work in places with long histories of occupation and colonialism, where the impacts of colonialism are still ongoing, and no matter how well-intentioned, conservation work tends to continue those legacies. In order to stop perpetuating harm to Indigenous communities around the world, we need to start by understanding the many ways the work we do and the assumptions we make are informed by these historical frameworks.
PhDone!
I’m delighted to share a major (and majorly overdue) update: in August, I successfully completed my PhD! My dissertation is publicly available online here. It feels surreal to even type those words. I’ve spent the last few months trying to wrap my mind around closing this chapter of my life, while reflecting on what it … Continue reading PhDone!
New publication: Coral reefs in the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati after more than a decade of multiple stressors
I'm thrilled to share the first publication from my Ph.D. dissertation research, out last month in the open-access journal PLoS One (and available for download here). This paper will be the first chapter of my dissertation, and it's great to (finally) see it out in the universe! Conducting surveys of reefs in Abaiang in 2018. … Continue reading New publication: Coral reefs in the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati after more than a decade of multiple stressors
History doesn’t have to repeat itself: Looking back at the origins of biodiversity conservation shows that decolonization is necessary for just and effective steps forward
Last week, I spoke at my department's weekly seminar about the need to situate conservation as a field within both local and historical contexts. My argument was that this context is integral for preventing conservation efforts from causing harm in the future; essentially, we need to learn from the past in order to find ways … Continue reading History doesn’t have to repeat itself: Looking back at the origins of biodiversity conservation shows that decolonization is necessary for just and effective steps forward
New publication: Climate change denial and the jeopardized interests of the United States in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia
I am excited to share my new publication, Climate change denial and the jeopardized interests of the United States in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia! The paper was published in the journal Asia Pacific Viewpoint just before the holidays and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you here. In the … Continue reading New publication: Climate change denial and the jeopardized interests of the United States in the Freely Associated States of Micronesia
Hidden Indicators of Reef Health: New study suggests that common survey metrics may miss subtler signs of stress (cross-posted from Reefbites)
Some corals in the Gulf of Aqaba (also known as the Gulf of Eilat) in the Red Sea are spawning out of sync, says a new paper published in Science by scientists Tom Shlesinger and Yossi Loya from Tel-Aviv University.
New publication: The relationship between macroalgae taxa and human disturbance on central Pacific coral reefs
I am delighted to share my first first-authored peer reviewed journal article, The relationship between macroalgae taxa and human disturbance on central Pacific coral reefs, now out in Marine Pollution Bulletin!
How corals can help us make predictions about our future under climate change (cross-posted from ReefBites)
This blog post originally appeared on ReefBites, the student blog of the International Society for Reef Studies. Every two to seven years, the eastern equatorial Pacific climate oscillates between anomalously warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) conditions in a process known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). This process influences sea surface temperatures … Continue reading How corals can help us make predictions about our future under climate change (cross-posted from ReefBites)
“We are not drowning, we are fighting”: Pacific Islanders want you to know that they still have hope for their islands
This blog post originally appeared on the Ocean Leaders blog, which highlights the work of Ocean Leaders fellows. Please consider giving them a follow on social media at @oceanleaders on Twitter or OceanLeadersUBC on Facebook! This past weekend, I was on a discussion panel for the documentary film Anote’s Ark, which follows the former present of … Continue reading “We are not drowning, we are fighting”: Pacific Islanders want you to know that they still have hope for their islands
Tiabo for now, Kiribati
I’m currently sitting in the departure terminal in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati. It is a small room made of mismatched wood paneling, with one wall open to the tarmac, and a concrete floor. There are no lights, and a huge fan in the corner keeps the air moving, although it's still sweltering. My back … Continue reading Tiabo for now, Kiribati
Sara Cannon, PhD 