Jared Naimark

My F&ES thesis research draws on political ecology to explore the controversy over a proposed national park in southeast Myanmar, and its potential impact on the customary land rights and livelihoods of indigenous Karen communities, including returning refugees and internally displaced people. Using qualitative social science methods including semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and participant observation, my research uncovers how different actors construct multiple visions of the same landscape, leading to conflict over the proposed national park.