Hugo Mazzero

Hugo Mazzero is a doctoral researcher in geography at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne, affiliated with the Montaigne-Humanities doctoral school (ED 480) and the Passages laboratory (UMR 5319 CNRS). He also serves as a temporary teaching and research associate (ATER) at the University of Picardie Jules Verne, where he contributes to geography instruction while completing his doctoral work. His academic trajectory bridges French institutions with international field research across multiple continents.

Mazzero's research interests focus on the complex interplay between borders and environmental conservation in transboundary protected areas. He examines how international borders both constrain and are transformed by conservation initiatives, analyzing the spatial practices of diverse stakeholders including local communities, tourists, conservation professionals, and wildlife itself. His work sits at the intersection of border studies and environmental geography, offering critical insights into how transboundary conservation spaces function as political and spatial outcomes of cross-border cooperation.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on transboundary conservation, border dynamics, and environmental governance. Spanning from 2020 to 2025, his work shows evolving sophistication in analyzing the tensions between bordering processes and conservation objectives. Early work established foundational concepts of ecological borders, while more recent publications delve into specific case studies like the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Alpi Marittime-Mercantour European Park, examining how wildlife commodification, spatial inequalities, and historical legacies shape transboundary conservation outcomes.

Mazzero's research methodology combines comparative analysis with multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork across South Africa, Mozambique, France, and Italy. His work engages critically with existing literature on border studies and conservation politics while contributing original empirical data on stakeholder experiences in transboundary protected areas. His publications appear in reputable geography and environmental studies journals, reflecting his growing contribution to understanding the complex spatial politics of conservation across international borders.