PhD Oral Exam - Leila Vaziri Zanjani, Geography, Urban & Environmental Studies

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) play a vital role in sustaining global biodiversity and environmental resilience through the stewardship of their collectively governed territories, commonly referred to as “territories of life”. Spanning vast land and seascapes across continents, these social-ecological systems integrate cultural, spiritual, and ecological dimensions. Yet despite their contributions to conservation, territories of life often lack formal recognition, face legal and governance threats, and are excluded from national and international environmental policy frameworks. This manuscript-based thesis critically examines key considerations for addressing these constraints.

The first manuscript highlights the global significance of IPLC-governed territories, advocating for an integrated, action-oriented research agenda to support these communities amid rising ecological and political pressures. The second emphasizes the need for biocultural indicators that capture the interdependence of nature, culture, and well-being, rooted in Indigenous knowledge and locally defined values – metrics essential for shifting conservation paradigms toward relational worldviews. The third presents a systematic review of coastal and marine governance scholarship, highlighting how colonial-era jurisdictional boundaries fracture land-sea continuity, marginalize IPLC rights, and constrain customary governance. While some states are making strides in legal recognition, policy and research frameworks often exclude Indigenous-authored knowledge, limiting inclusive transformation. The fourth analyzes marine conservation databases in Canada, revealing governance fragmentation that obscures Indigenous contributions and misrepresents conservation progress. Spatial analyses and evaluation tools point to transparency and Indigenous inclusion as key to accurate Marine Protected Area (MPA) reporting. Finally, a comparative study of philanthropic funding in Chile, Malaysia, and Tanzania demonstrates that community-defined goals—when supported through decolonial, trust-based partnerships—advance more equitable outcomes, with intermediary organizations crucial in translating donor agendas into culturally grounded initiatives.

Together, these manuscripts underscore the urgent need to decolonize environmental governance and conservation sciences by opening space for IPLC governance and tenure systems, prioritizing knowledge sovereignty, and reinforcing biocultural resilience. This thesis calls for reimagining conservation not as a top-down intervention but as a pluralistic, equity-driven partnership that centers Indigenous rights and relational stewardship at the land-sea nexus.