Research Projects
Forest, People, & Climate Shocks
Wild foods, which are often collected in forests, contribute to women's dietary diversity in rural region of India. Wild food collection is especially important to diets during June and July when crops have been planted but not yet harvested.
Native Seed Systems
Native seed systems are essential to restoring landscapes and supporting biodiversity. Preserving and propagating native seed sources helps landowners and conservation groups rebuild prairie and grassland habitat, improve soil health, and adapt to changing environmental conditions while strengthening local seed-saving knowledge and practices.
Building Resilient Local Food Systems
Resilient local food systems are critical to healthy landscapes and communities. Increasing the consumption of local fruits, vegetables, and meat can improve the diet and food security of South Dakotas, and it improve community vitality by supporting local producers.
Women's Participation in Outdoor Sports
Increasing women's participation in hunting and fishing is a goal of many state conservation agencies. To support women in these sports, we need to better understand their decision making process, how to improve R3 programs tailored to women, and create ways to connect to women's outdoor groups.
Conservation Planning for Dynamic Futures
Conservation planning is critical to meet the challenges posed by climate change. With the increased variability, it is critical to understand both how people are adapting to climate change and how stakeholders can best coordinate their efforts.
My name is Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek
Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek is a sustainable development scholar who uses quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand complex human-natural systems and advance human dignity. Her research interests are broad, ranging from food and agricultural systems, community forestry management, and human dimensions of biodiversity conservation.
