Research Interests
Population, Environment, and Rural Livelihoods
Within all environmental contexts, sociodemographic, economic, and biophysical factors interact to yield important environmental changes. As an example of the interactions between these factors, regional economic shifts can bring population redistribution, which, in turn, impacts biodiversity through attendant land-use transitions.
A key part of Lori's current research agenda explores natural resources and rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. The Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in rural South Africa has served as the primary study setting for this work. Topical foci thus far have included natural resources as coping strategies for HIV/AIDS-impacted households; the role of wild foods in food security; and migration as related to climate variability. For more information on the Agincourt field site visit:
http://web.wits.ac.za/Academic/Health/PublicHealth/Agincourt/agincourt_hdss.htm
Some of Lori's earlier work in this area examined population-environment dynamics in Utah and the California Mojave.
Recent Publications and Working Papers:
- Tracy Kirkland, Robert Kemp, Lori M. Hunter and Wayne Twine. “Toward Improved Understanding of Food Security: A Methodological Examination Based in Rural South Africa.” Submitted to Food, Culture and Society.
- Lori M. Hunter, Wayne Twine, and Aaron Johnson. 2011. “Adult Mortality and Natural Resource Use in Rural South Africa: Evidence from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site.” Society and Natural Resources. 24(3): 256-275.
- Wayne Twine and Lori M. Hunter. 2010. ““Adult Mortality, Food Security and the Use of Wild Natural Resources in a Rural District of South Africa: Exploring the Environmental Dimensions of AID.” Chapter X in AIDS and Rural Livelihoods Dynamics and Diversity in sub-Saharan Africa, Edited By Anke Niehof, Gabriel Rugalema and Stuart Gillespie. Earthscan, London.
- Hunter, Lori M., John Reid-Hresko, and Thomas W. Dickinson: "Environmental Change, Risky Sexual Behavior, and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Linkages Through Livelihoods in Rural Haiti." Forthcoming in Population Research and Policy Review.
- (working paper) POP2009-01 Hunter, Lori M., Laura Patterson, and Wayne Twine: "HIV/AIDS, Food Security and the Role of the Natural Environment: Evidence from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in Rural South Africa."
- (working paper) POP2009-03 Patterson, Laura, Lori M. Hunter, and Wayne Twine: "The Socioeconomic Context of Prime-Age Adult Mortality: Evidence from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site."
- 2008. Hunter, Lori M., Roger-Mark De Souza and Wayne Twine. “The Environmental Dimensions of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: A Call for Scholarship and Evidence-Based Interventions.” Guest Editor Introduction to Special Issue on “HIV/AIDS and the Environment.” Population and Environment. Vol. 29, Nos. 3-4.
- 2008. deSherbinin, Alex, Leah VanWey, Kendra McSweeney, Rimjhim Aggarwal, Alisson Barbieri, Sabine Henry, Lori M. Hunter, Wayne Twine, Robert Walker. “Rural Household Micro-Demographics, Livelihoods and the Environment.” Global Environmental Change. 18: 38-53.
- 2006-2007. Web articles written for the Population Reference Bureau:
"HIV/AIDS and the Natural Environment."
"Understanding How HIV/AIDS, Agricultural Systems, and Food Security Are Linked."
"Climate Change, Rural Vulnerabilities and Migration." - 2007. Alex deSherbinin, Leah VanWey, Kendra McSweeney, Rimjhim Aggarwal, Alisson Barbieri, Sabine Henry, Lori M. Hunter, Wayne Twine. "Rural Household Micro-Demographics, Livelihoods and the Environment." Global Environmental Change.
- 2007. Hunter, Lori M., Wayne Twine and Laura Patterson. "'Locusts Are Now Our Beef' Adult Mortality and Household Dietary Use of Local Environmental Resources." Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
- 2007. Tracy Kirkland, Lori M. Hunter and Wayne Twine. "'The Bush is No More:' Insights on Institutional Change and Natural Resource Availability in Rural South Africa." Society and Natural Resources.
- 2005. Hunter, Lori M, Wayne Twine and Aaron Johnson. "Adult Mortality and Natural Resource Use in Rural South Africa: Evidence from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site." Working Paper EB2005.0004.
- 2003. Hunter, Lori M., Manuel Gonzalez, Matt Stevenson, Richard Toth, Thomas Edwards, Robert Lilieholm, and Mary Cablk. "Population and land use change in the CaliforniaMojave: Natural habitat implications of alternative futures." Population Research and Policy Review.
- 2003. Hunter, Lori M., John Beal, and Tom Dickinson. "Integrating Demographic and GAP Analysis Biodiversity Data: Useful Insight?" Human Dimensions of Wildlife.
- 2001. The Environmental Implications of Population Dynamics. Available from the RAND website ( www.rand.org ).
Migration and Environmental Context
The American public has become increasingly aware of environmental issues especially during the past three decades. This increasing awareness has generally translated into more attention being focused on the effects of pollution and higher value being placed on surroundings free from environmental risk. Lori's research within this area has been motivated by the possibility that such environmental concern may be reflected in the choice of residential location.
Recent Publications and Working Papers:
- (working paper) POP2011-03 Hunter, Lori M., Sheena Murray, and Fernando Riosmena: "Climatic Variability and U.S. Migration from Rural Mexico"
- 2010. Robert McLeman and Lori M. Hunter. “Migration in the Context of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: Insights from Analogues.” Climate Change. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Volume 1 Issue 2 (March/April).
- (working paper) POP2009-13 Hunter, Lori M. and Emmanuel David: "Climate Change and Migration: Considering the Gender Dimensions."
- 2007. Jarron Saint Onge, Lori M. Hunter and Jason Boardman. "Population Growth in High Amenity Rural Areas: Does It Bring Opportunity for Long-Term Residents?" Social Science Quarterly.
- 2005. Hunter, Lori M. "Migration and Environmental Hazards." Population and Environment.
- 2004. Hunter, Lori M., Jason Boardman, and Jarron Saint Onge. "The Association between Natural Amenities, Rural Population Growth and Long-Term Residents' Economic Well-Being." Rural Sociology.
- 2004. Hunter, Lori M. and Jeannette Sutton. "Examining Hazardous Waste Facilities and Rural "Brain Drain." Rural Sociology.
- 2003. Hunter, Lori M., Michael J. White, Jani Little, and Jeannette Sutton. "Environmental Hazards, Migration, and Race." Population and Environment: An Interdisciplinary Journal.
Public Perception of Environmental Issues
Human-environment relations are also greatly affected by the ways in which individuals perceive their environmental context. Within this area, Lori's research has contributed to the body of literature examining social variation in environmental perception.
Recent Publications and Working Papers:
- 2010. Hunter, Lori M., Susie Strife, and Wayne Twine. “Environmental Perceptions of Rural South African Residents: The Complex Nature of Environmental Concern.” Society and Natural Resources23(6): 525–541.
- 2009. White, Michael J. and Lori M. Hunter. “Public Perception of Environmental Issues in a Developing Setting: Environmental Concern in Coastal Ghana.” Social Science Quarterly.
- 2007. Tracy Kirkland, Lori M. Hunter and Wayne Twine. "'The Bush is No More:' Insights on Institutional Change and Natural Resource Availability in Rural South Africa." Society and Natural Resources.
- 2005. Hunter, Lori M. "Household Strategies in the Face of Resource Scarcity: Are They Associated with Development Priorities?" Population Research and Policy Review.
- 2005. Hunter, Lori M. and Michael B. Toney. “Religion and Attitudes toward the Environment: A Comparison of Mormons and the General U.S. Population." Social Science Journal.
- 2004. Hunter, Lori M., Alison Hatch, and Aaron Johnson. "Cross-National Gender Variation in Environmental Behaviors." Social Science Quarterly.
- 2004. Hunter, Lori M. and Lesley Rinner. "The Association between Environmental Perspective and Knowledge and Concern with Species Diversity." Society and Natural Resources.
- 2004. Hunter, Lori M. and Joan Brehm. "A Qualitative Examination of Value Orientations toward Wildlife and Biodiversity by Rural Residents of the Intermountain Region." Human Ecology Review.
- 2003. Hunter, Lori M. and Joan Brehm. "Qualitative Insight Into Public Knowledge of, and Concern With, Biodiversity." Human Ecology.
