Iokine Rodriguez Fernandez

Iokine Rodriguez Fernandez is a Professor in Environment and Development at the School of Global Development (DEV), University of East Anglia (UEA). She is a member of the Global Environmental Justice Group, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and Area Studies. Her work bridges sociology, development studies, and environmental governance, with a strong emphasis on grassroots-led transformation.

• Ph.D. in Development Studies, University of Sussex
• M.Phil. in Environment and Development, University of Cambridge
• Post-doctorate, Centre of Social Studies of Science, IVIC, Venezuela

Her research centers on environmental conflict transformation, decolonial environmental justice, and the role of local and indigenous knowledge in sustainable development. She employs participatory action research to empower communities and challenge dominant environmental narratives. Her expertise includes intercultural dialogue, equity in conservation, and fire management in pyrobiocultural landscapes.

The 15 most recent publications highlight a consistent trajectory in decolonial and grassroots environmental justice, with strong regional focus on Latin America—particularly Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, and Mexico. Key themes include the pluriverse of peace, co-management of protected areas, fire stewardship, and restorative justice. These works reflect interdisciplinary engagement across political ecology, geography, sociology, and indigenous studies.

Scientific awards include:

• Winner of Joint Project Award, 2016 UEA Engagement Awards
• Winner of the Achievement Award, 2022 UEA Engagement Awards

She has supervised and collaborated on multiple research projects, including international grants from the British Academy, ESRC, NERC, and Research Councils UK. Her advisory roles span community-based initiatives, academic collaborations, and policy development. She is co-founder of Grupo Confluencias, a Latin American network for environmental conflict transformation.

Her research is conducted through active engagement with local communities, indigenous groups, and NGOs. She leads or contributes to projects such as Following the Light, IXCHEL2, School, Territory and Post-conflict, and ACKNOWL-EJ, all emphasizing co-produced knowledge, capacity building, and justice-centered environmental governance.