UNC Ecology Seminar: Lori Hunter

The Environmental Dimensions of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Natural Resource Dependence in Rural South Africa

Two important trends related to population dynamics and the environment are presently colliding to shape the sustainability of rural livelihoods in many poor nations. First, HIV/AIDS continues to dramatically shape mortality patterns, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Second, many regions are experiencing environmental degradation owing to numerous factors including social inequality and intense natural resource dependence. Examining the association between AIDS mortality and household environmental reliance, Dr. Hunter will present results from several years of fieldwork at the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in rural South Africa. A key consideration is household vulnerability in the face of contemporary climate change. She will also briefly introduce a new project, also based in rural South Africa, exploring rural migration as a livelihood strategy in the face of shifting environmental conditions.