Connor Cavanagh

Connor Cavanagh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Bergen. His research focuses on the intersections of sustainability finance, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation, with a particular emphasis on political ecology and conservation governance in Africa. He co-edited the 2018 book Conservation and Development in Uganda, which examines neoliberal conservation strategies, community-based initiatives, and their socio-ecological impacts. His work critiques conservation policies through a political ecology lens, addressing issues like land dispossession, environmental justice, and the global carbon finance market. Cavanagh’s research also explores the socio-political dimensions of conservation conflicts, including the interplay between conservation efforts, rural livelihoods, and global environmental agreements.

He has published extensively on topics such as carbon offset programs, conservation-induced displacement, and the governance of natural resources in East Africa. His analyses highlight the tensions between conservation goals, economic development, and marginalized communities’ rights. Cavanagh’s interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from human geography, institutional economics, and environmental science to propose equitable and sustainable solutions to complex conservation challenges.