Jackson Montgomery Roper
(Monty)

Associate Professor of Anthropology

Grinnell College
204 Goodnow Hall
Grinnell, IA 50112
Tel: (641) 269-3017
roperjm@grinnell.edu

• Geographic: Latin America. Focus on tropical forest regions, particularly the Amazon basin.
  
• Topical: Political economy of natural resource management and degradation (political ecology), ecological and applied anthropology, property systems and reform, indigenous development and modern social movements, sustainable development.

CURRENT OR RECENT RESEARCH PROJECTS AND RELATED RESOURCES

Research in Bolivia:

The Political Ecology of Indigenous Forestry Management and Economic Development in Lowland Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (Beni Department). This project focuses on the interest and efforts of indigenous communities and representative organizations to manage and develop natural resources (with a focus on commercial timber) in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory, since its creation in 1990, and how such indigenous "self-development" has been affected by the broader political economy surrounding those natural resources. Dissertation research focused on the period from 1990-1997 and involved 12 months of fieldwork in 1997. Two months of fieldwork 2004 gave particular attention to the effect of changes in laws in the mid 1990s that were only beginning to be implemented in 1997. (Research Ongoing).

Related Publications and Resources:

1. "Whose Territory Is It? Resource Contestation and Organizational Chaos in Bolivia’s Multiethnic Indigenous Territory." by J. Montgomery Roper. This paper provides a historical review and analysis of natural resource management and development efforts from 1990 through 1997 in Bolivia's Multiethnic Indigenous Territory. It was prepared for delivery at the 2000 meeting of the Latin American Studies Association Hyatt Regency Miami, March 16-18, 2000.
2. Slide show of some pictures and information on the region, but without going into detail on my research.
3. Roper, J. Montgomery, 2003 “Bolivian Legal Reforms and Local Indigenous Organizations: Opportunities and Obstacles in a Lowland Municipality”.  Latin American Perspectives 30(1): 5-22.
4. Roper, J. Montgomery, 1998 "San Ignacio de Moxos: territorios indígenas, madereros y mara". In P. Pacheco and D. Kaimowitz (eds.), Municipios y Gestión Forestal en el Trópico Boliviano. La Paz, Bolivia: published in coordination by CIFOR, CEDLA, and TIERRA.  Pp: 83-105.
5. Archive of Documents from research Site (rough organization - still under construction)

Research in Nicaragua:

Indigenous Participation in Commercial Forestry Markets in the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region, Nicaragua. This project examines indigenous participation in commercial forestry and identifies the various models of participation, the costs and benefits of such participation, and the variables affecting costs/benefits and obstacles to participation. Data gathering has been done through an intensive review of literature, a 2-week rapid rural assessment in Miskito and Mayangna communities, and interviews with key state and NGO officials in Nicaragua. The project was initiated as a consultancy, but will also be integrated into a broader comparative project on indigenous forestry.

Related Publications and Resources:

1. 1. An Assessment of Indigenous Participation in Commercial Forestry Markets: The Case of Nicaragua's Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region. by J. Montgomery Roper. This is the final project report, published by Forest Trends.
   2. Bibliography on Forestry in Nicaragua and Indigenous Peoples of the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). This 22 page bibliography was prepared as part of the consultancy with Forest Trends, but was not published on their website.

Grinnell College

Last Updated: November 6, 2006