College of Forestry and Conservation, The University of Montana
"World class in the Rockies"

The Program ICD Curriculum and International Opportunities ICD Graduates and M.S. Projects Admission Financial Aid Peace Corps Core ICD Faculty Additional information and application materials

The Program

The College of Forestry and Conservation invites you to study and work in the challenging arena of International Conservation and Development (ICD). The ICD Option, formerly known as International Resource Management, provides opportunities for graduate students to develop an integrated understanding of ecological and social aspects of global environmental change, conservation and management, and to apply that knowledge to resource management through international professional work. The ICD curriculum and overseas work experience emphasize the integration of biophysical and social dimensions of resource management, and their application towards ecological sustainability and social justice. Defining features of ICD include:

• Combining graduate coursework with international field-based learning
• Flexibility and diversity of resource questions addressed and approaches used
• Committed interdisciplinary faculty
• Close collaboration among a cohort of graduate students
• Complete an M.S. degree in Resource Conservation with an Option in International Conservation and Development

ICD students and faculty address a wide range of issues around the world. Previous ICD students have worked on protected area management, community conservation, watershed management, non-timber forest products, agroforestry systems, reduced impact logging and wildlife conservation. Students utilize a variety of approaches and generate diverse products based on their fieldwork, including extension education materials, field guides and peer-reviewed journal articles. To date, 37 students have completed ICD studies, nine are currently on international assignments in South America, Africa and Asia, and seven are on campus completing M.S. degrees or preliminary coursework.

The ICD program is well known nationally and graduates have secured professional employment with international and domestic organizations in both the public and private sectors. ICD graduates are currently employed with international non-governmental conservation and development organizations; federal agencies, including the US National Park Service, the US Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service; and in private consulting.

ICD Curriculum and International Opportunities

The ICD Option involves completion of an interdisciplinary core curriculum (total of 14 credits), additional coursework in a specific area of academic and professional interest, and completion of an international assignment with either the Peace Corps or an international conservation and development organization.

The core curriculum includes coursework in ecology (FOR 532: Forest Ecosystem Analysis), sociology (FOR 474: Sociology of Environment and Development), tropical ecosystems (FOR 582: Tropical Ecosystems and Management), research methods (quantitative and/or qualitative methods) and a year-long seminar (FOR 571: International Conservation and Development). Specialized coursework is available in any of the fields of study available in the College of Forestry and Conservation. This includes forest management, protected area management, rural and environmental sociology, watershed management, wildlife biology, range management, recreation management, and remote sensing/geographic information systems. Students can also complete coursework in any other unit on the UM campus (e.g., Biological Sciences, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Business Administration, etc.). ICD courses are small, seminar in format and provide opportunities to pursue independent projects in preparation for international assignments. Students work with faculty advisors to identify and develop specific projects and benefit from interacting with other graduate students pursuing similar studies.

ICD students can pursue either the M.S. professional paper option (36 credits) or the M.S. thesis option (30 credits); the professional paper option is recommended due to its greater flexibility. Students are expected to complete two semesters of coursework prior to their international assignments (24 credits), and one semester afterwards to complete the professional paper or thesis. Academic credit (1 credit/semester) is available for international work. Individuals who have already served in the Peace Corps or have other international experience may build upon aspects of their previous international work as the basis for M.S. studies. Approximately 2/3 of ICD students have completed international assignments with the Peace Corps; the remainder have worked with international conservation or development organizations.

ICD Graduates and M.S. Projects

App, Brian. 2004. Rural Reforestation Projects in Touroua, Northern Cameroon.
Full M.S. Thesis (pdf format)

Berg, Jodi. 2007. The Carnivore Assemblage of La Payunia Reserve, Patagonia, Argentina: Dietary Niche, Prey Availability, and Selection. Full M.S. Thesis (pdf format)

Booth, Doug. 2001. The Golden Guipil: A Story of the Endangered Pokomchi Maya and the Golden-Cheeked Warbler (Guatemala).

Bonham, Curan. 2006. Biodiversity and Conservation of Sierra Chinaja: A Rapid Assessment of Biophysical, Socioeconomic and Management Factors in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Full M.S. Thesis (pdf format)

Brient, Thaden. 2006. The Sustainability of Commercial Woodcraft Production in the Community of Mision Chaquena, Argentina: A Preliminary Assessment. Full M.S. Thesis (pdf format)

Brown, Michele. 1998. Swidden Agriculture and an Intensified Rice Cultivation Program at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.

Calero, Colleen. 1998. The History and Importance of Guinea Pig Production for the Indigenous People of the Peruvian Andes.

Canepa, Sarah. 2007. Finding Place in Paraguay: Rethinking the Placement of Peace Corps Volunteers. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Carey, Hal. 2004. Analyzing Implementation of the Natural Forest Protection Plan in China.
Full M.S. thesis

Caniago, I. 1996. The Ecology, Use and Local Knowledge of Medicinal Plants in Nanga Juoi, Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Daly, Brian. 1999. A Guide to Important Forestry Tree Species Native to the Atlantic Slope of Costa Rica.

Egans, Tamara. 2003. The Price Beyond the Pump: Social, Economic and Environmental Effects of United States Oil Development in Ecuador.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Finch, Jocelyn. 2006. Co-management at a Crossroads: Exploring Local and National Influence on Marine Protected Areas in Southern Belize. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Green, Stuart. 2005. Emerging Biodigester Technology in Honduras: Biophysical Processes and Operation.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Gritzner, Jason. 2003. Land Cover/Land Use Dynamics in the Taquina Watershed, Cochabamba, Bolivia: 1968-2001.

Guevara, M. 1999. The Abundance and Population Structure of Some Economically Important Trees of Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica.

Handler, S. 2007. First-Year Growth and Survival of Habitat Revegetation Trials on the Lower Colorado River, Mexico. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Herbeck, Journey. 2004. Cultivating Student Internal Locus of Control Using Participatory Rural Appraisal in Villa Santa, Honduras.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Heyn, Joslin. 2003. Migration and Development on Niue Island.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Hoffa, Erica. 1997. Early Dry Season Biomass Burning in the Dambo and Miombo of Zambia.

Horcher, Andy. 2000. Stand Dynamics of Cinnamomum burmannii, an Invasive Tree, in O’ahu, Hawaii.

Hoyt, Pelah. 2005. Factors that Contribute to Cloud Forest Conservation in Southern Ecuador.

Karsner, Jennifer. 1999. Biophysical Differences between Primary Forest and Traditional Hillside Farms in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Krueger, Werner. 2003. Effects of Future Crop Tree Flagging and Skid Trail Planning on Conventional Diameter-limit Logging in a Bolivian Tropical Forest.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Laughlin, Sarah. 2000. Avian Seed Dispersal of Cinnamomum burmannii in Nuuanu Valley, O’ahu, Hawaii and its Implications for Alien Species Invasion.

Lenches, Christine. 1998. Environmental Education in Hungary: Constraints and Limitations.

Maroney, Ryan. 2003. Argali (Ovis ammon) Conservation in Western Mongolia and the Altai-Sayan.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

McCarthy, Shane. 1997. South American Camelids: A Sustainable Use Alternative for Pastoralists in the Paramo Grassland of Ecuador.

Mildenstein, Tammy. 2002. Habitat Selection of Endemic and Endangered Large Flying Foxes (Pteropus vampyrus and Acerodon jubatus) Using Radio Telemetry: Targeting Conservation Efforts in Subic Bay, Philippines.

Moler, Robert. 2003. PLANT: People Learning and Nurturing Trees.

Moline, Anna. 2001 Development of a School Gardening Environmental Education Curriculum for Rural Paraguayan Schools.

Notin, Kimberly. 2006. Learning to Change and Changing Learning in Environmental Management: A Case Study of the Kaw Nature Reserve in French Guiana. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Olson, Garrett. 2007. Forests and Farming: An Analysis of Rural Livelihood Programs for Poverty Reduction in Eastern Zambia. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Olson, Mark. 2005. Corn/Cattle/CARE: Farm Tree Agroforestry Practices in Saraguro, Ecuador.

Petersen, Monica. 1998. To “Be” or “Be Empowered” An Evaluation of an Agroforestry Project in El Salvador.

Potenza, Sarah. 2007. Action-Oriented Sustainable Agricultural Education: Attitudes Towards Nutrition and Agricultural Practices in Guaimaca, Honduras. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Ritchotte, George. 2003. Community Forest Management in Tsitongambarika Forest Reserve, Madagascar.

Seagle, Jason. 2008. Agricultural Certifications and Bookeeping: Lessons from an Apicultural Cooperative in Northeastern El Salvador, Centeral America. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Sheffy, John. 2005. Attempts at Participatory Forest Management in the Ghana-Togo Highlands. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Snyder, Jennifer. 2001. Working with Community-based Organizations to Develop Nature Tourism: A Case Study from the Tropical Lowlands of Bolivia.

Stier, Sam. 2003. Dietary Habits of Two Threatened Co-roosting Flying Foxes (Megachiroptera), Subic Bay, Philippines.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Tawes, Robert. 1998. An Evaluation of Rancher Interest and On-Farm Performance of Two Indigenous Tree Species (Albizia guachapele and Samanea saman) in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

Toth, Justina. 2007. Assessment of Potential Agroforestry Systems for Kafuta: A Village in the Western Division of the Gambia. Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Vermilye, Karin. 2004. Vitellaria paradoxa and the Feasibility of a Shea Butter Project in Northern Cameroon.
Full M.S. thesis (pdf format)

Woitas, Dale. 2002. Fire in the Mountains: Campesino and Natural Resource Manager Perspectives on Agro-pastoral Burning and Forest Fires in Honduras.

The steppes and deserts of Central Asia are home to nomadic pastoralists and a rich diversity of large mammals. Ryan Maroney lived and worked in western Mongolia where he studied Kazakh herders and argali conservation; A .pdf file of his M.S. professional paper can be viewed by clicking here

Caniago, I. and S.F. Siebert. 1998. Medicinal plant ecology, knowledge, and conservation in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Economic Botany 52:229-250. View Publication

Guevara, M. and S.F. Siebert. 2001. The abundance and population structure of some economically important trees of Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica. Brenesia 55-56:69-80.

Krueger, Werner. 2004. Effects of future crop tree flagging and skid trail planning on
conventional diameter-limit logging in a Bolivian tropical forest. Forest Ecology
and Management 188:381-393. View Publication (pdf)

Maroney, Ryan. 2005. Conservation of argali (Ovis ammon) in Mongolia and the Altai-
Sayan. Biological Conservation 121:231-241. View Publication (pdf)

Maroney, Ryan. 2004. Altai argali (Ovis ammon ammon) surveys in Mongolia’s Siilkhemiin Nuruu National Park. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 1:33-36.

Mildenstein, T.M., S.C. Stier, C.E. Nuevo-Diego, and L. Scott Mills. 2005. Habitat selection of endangered and endemic large flying-foxes in Subic Bay, Philippines. Biological Conservation 126:93-102. View Publication (pdf)

Stier, S.C. and T.L. Mildenstein. 2005. Dietary habits of the world’s largest bats: the Philippine flying foxes, Acerodon jubatus and Pteropus vampyrus lanensis. Journal of Mammalogy 86:719-728. View Publication (pdf)

Tawes, R. and S.F. Siebert. 2003. Rancher interest and on-pasture performance of Pseudosamanea guachapele and Samanea saman (Mimosaceae) in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Brenesia 59-60:83-86.

Admission

Admission to ICD requires demonstrated interest in international resource conservation, management and service; an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better; GRE scores of 500 verbal and 600 quantitative; and three letters of recommendation. Applications are accepted to begin in the Fall semester only due to the sequential nature of some courses and are due the previous January 31. Prospective students should review faculty expertise and interests, and to correspond with faculty members whose interests are similar. College of Forestry and Conservation Faculty Students are accepted into the ICD program only if a faculty member is willing and able to serve as a graduate advisor.

Financial Aid

The University of Montana seeks to provide funding support for ICD students through teaching assistantships. Applicants interested in financial assistance should indicate an interest in serving as a teaching assistant (awarded on a competitive basis) when submitting their application materials. Applicants who have completed Peace Corps service (RPCV) are encouraged to apply to serve as the UM

campus Peace Corps recruiter. This position includes a tuition and fee waiver, and a monthly stipend.

Peace Corps

Students interested in the Peace Corps should simultaneously apply through their regional recruiting office (Tel. 800-424-8580) Masters International, Peace Corps Fellows. Married couples are welcome to apply (three married couples have completed ICD studies), but both must qualify individually to be volunteers. Peace Corps benefits include: a readjustment allowance of $6,075 after successful completion of two years training and service, a monthly living allowance for food, housing and incidentals that will permit you to live at the level of host country co-workers, medical and dental care, all local transportation and one year of noncompetitive eligibility for positions with the federal government (upon successful completion of service).

Core ICD Faculty -- College of Forestry and Conservation Faculty

Jill Belsky, Professor – rural and environmental sociologist

Don Bedunah, Professor – range resources management

Bill Borrie, Associate Professor - parks and recreation management

Jim Burchfield, Associate Dean - forest social scientist

John Goodburn, Assistant Professor – silviculture

Neil Moisey, Associate Professor - nature-based tourism

Mike Patterson, Associate Professor – wildlife biology and recreation management

Don Potts, Professor – watershed management

Stephen Siebert, Professor – tropical forest conservation and management

Laurie Yung, Director Wilderness Institute - conservation policy

ICD studies can be undertaken with any faculty in the College of Forestry and Conservation. We encourage you to review faculty research and teaching interests and to correspond with faculty whose interests are most similar to your own.

For additional information and if you have questions, please contact:

Stephen Siebert, Professor
College of Forestry and Conservation,
The University of Montana,
Missoula, MT 59812
Tel: (406) 243-4661, Fax: (406) 243-6656
Email: steve.siebert@cfc.umt.edu

ICD Coordinator Steve Siebert has worked on forest conservation and agricultural issues in Southeast Asia for 20 years. His recent work has focused on the ecology and management of rattan palms, and biodiversity implications associated with the transition from shade to sun-grown coffee and cacao.