Daniel Klooster Ph.D.

Professional Background

Research

Daniel Klooster’s research has been on conservation and development topics in Latin America, starting after graduating from Macalester College. While there, he researched squatter settlements in landslide zones in Colombia, sea turtle conservation in an Indigenous area on the coast of Mexico for master’s work, and community forestry in Indigenous communities in Mexico for dissertation research. Since the dissertation, Professor Klooster has worked in Mexico on land use change, community forestry, Forest Stewardship Council forest certification, and how migration affects rural sustainable development possibilities.

During a 2022–2023 sabbatical, Klooster conducted research with small-scale Indigenous distillers of mezcal, a traditional, artisanal liquor similar to tequila. Mezcal is made with very traditional methods from a wide variety of wild and domesticated agave species, often by Indigenous people. Klooster is interested in knowing more about how Indigenous villagers are benefiting from a booming, globalizing market for this beverage and how they are trying to protect their culture and territorial resources as they interact with powerful market actors.

Those research experiences inspire Klooster’s teaching, especially May Term courses to Mexico in 2013 and 2014, a pair of successful Fulbright applications for University of Redlands students who conducted research in Mexico with colleagues there, and a course now regularly offered in Panama. In Panama, students study forest conservation dynamics on a rainforest frontier, visit Indigenous villages, and learn about their role in conservation challenges.

Klooster also recently developed a course on environmental justice. With help from the Center for Spatial Studies, students collaborated with local environmental justice activists to map the environmental justice implications of warehouse locations in Southern California. Students’ maps and analysis appeared in a report at earthjustice.org and were covered in news reports about the issue.

Academic Experience

• Professor of environmental studies, University of Redlands, 2011–present
• Chair, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Redlands, 2015–2018
• Director, Latin American Studies Program, University of Redlands, 2010–2012
• Professor of Latin American studies, University of Redlands, 2010–2011
• Associate professor of Latin American studies, University of Redlands, 2008–2010
• Associate professor of geography, Florida State University, 2006–2008
• Assistant professor of geography, Florida State University, 2000–2006
• Adjunct assistant professor of international affairs, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, 1999–2000
• Fortune postdoctoral fellow in conservation and development, Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University, 1997–1999