Protected areas, human-wildlife interactions, and biodiversity conservation

Research Interests

I am broadly interested in human-environment interactions, particularly focusing on protected areas and their relationship to people and biodiversity. The central themes to my research are: 1. Protected areas and their relationship to people living around them; 2. Biodiversity patterns and factors that drive the persistence of wildlife; 3. Societal impacts of conservation interventions and policies. I am particularly interested in human-wildlife interactions, land use change, livelihood dependence of local communities, resettlement of people, and tourism impacts.

Current Projects

Academic Background

I am a post doctoral scientist with Dr. Ruth DeFries. I obtained a Ph.D in Environmental Science and Policy from Duke University (2008). I have a master's from Yale in Environmental Science (2003), B.S (Environmental Science) and B.A (Geography) from the University of Florida (2001).

Key Publications

Karanth, K. K., Kramer, R, Qian, S, Christensen, N. L. 2008. Conservation Attitudes, Perspectives and Challenges in India. Biological Conservation 141: 2357-2367.
Karanth, K. K. 2007. Making Resettlement Work: Lessons from India’s Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. Biological Conservation 139: 315-324. (First Nicholas School Dean's Award for Outstanding Student Paper 2008)
Karanth, U. K. and Karanth, K. K. 2007. Free to Move: Conservation and Voluntary Resettlement in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Protected Areas and Human Displacement: Conservation Perspective. Editors K. H. Redford and E. Fearn. 29:48-59.
Karanth, K. K., Curran, L.M and Reuning-Scherer, J.D. 2006.Village Size and Forest Disturbance in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. Biological Conservation 128: 147- 157.
Karanth, K. K., Nichols, J. D., Sauer, J. R and Hines, J. E. 2006. Comparative Community Dynamics of North American Bird Communities Across Edge and Interior Habitats. Journal of Biogeography 33: 674-682.
Karanth, K. K. 2005. Addressing Relocation and Livelihood Concerns: Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. Economic and Political Weekly 40 (46): 4809-4811.
Karanth, K. K. 2003. Forest Use and Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Tropical Resources Bulletin 22: 48-58.
Karanth, K. K. 2001. Land-Cover and Land-Use Change within Sisaket, Thailand from November 1990 to March 2000. Journal of Undergraduate Research 2:8.