Eli Knapp

Eli Knapp is a Professor of Ecology at Houghton University in New York and Tanzania. He directs the Houghton-in-Tanzania study abroad program and has taught in New Zealand's Creation Care Studies Program. His research focuses on human-environment interactions in protected areas, particularly around poaching and household economies in East Africa.

• Ph.D. in Ecology, Colorado State University (2009)
• M.S. in Environmental Science and Management, University of California-Santa Barbara (2003)
• B.S., Houghton College (2000)

Dr. Knapp's research bridges ecology, conservation biology, and human dimensions of wildlife. He has lived in Serengeti National Park for three years, studying how local communities interact with protected ecosystems. His work emphasizes poverty metrics, cultural perceptions, and sustainable development in East African contexts.

His publications span ecological ethics, conservation economics, and socioeconomic drivers of illegal hunting. Articles like "God Loves Protected Species" (2019) and "Why Poaching Pays" (2012) highlight his interdisciplinary approach combining field ecology with human behavior analysis.