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Susanna Hecht is a Professor at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, specializing in tropical development in Latin America, particularly the Amazon Basin and Central America. Her research focuses on the political economies of development from the perspectives of corporate frontiers, cattle export, and commodity agriculture, and she analyzes the comparative environmental and social impacts of these issues. Hecht explores alternatives to destructive development, examining conservation efforts and indigenous technologies, including the use of non-timber extractive products and niche markets. She has developed a robust analytic approach known as Political Ecology, emphasizing the understanding of the theoretical and institutional dynamics that underlie deforestation. Hecht's work employs a variety of methodologies, from soil science to ethnography, making significant contributions to understanding complex issues like the sustainability of agricultural practices in the Amazon. Her current research places globalization at the center of her studies on soybean frontiers and encompasses the dynamics of forest resurgence. Susanna is also completing a book titled Globalization Amazonia, which delves into environmental and social histories of the tropics. Hecht has previously collaborated with international agencies and received distinguished grants from notable foundations, and her publications have garnered several prestigious awards in environmental history.
Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA • Los Angeles, CA
Susanna Hecht conducts research and teaches in the areas of environmental sociology, political ecology, and sustainable development, focusing on the socio-environmental dynamics of tropical regions.
Department of Economics admits primarily for the PhD program.