Van Gujjar Nomadic Pastoralists & Biodiversity Conservation

As a University of California Human Rights Fellow, Dr. Rahimzadeh conducted preliminary research on the consequences of the 1983 creation of Rajaji National Park (RNP) in the foothills of the Indian Himalaya, on the local Van Gujjar nomadic pastoralists. 

Her research sought to understand how top-down conservation policies have contributed to the marginalization of the Van Gujjars by displacing them from access to natural resources and excluding them from decision-making processes.

Findings from this research were presented at the UC Human Rights Conference in 2009 and at the American Association of Geographers in 2010. Additionally, a working paper was developed from its results.