COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 29 “I was having conversations with people who might not have education, who may not be mentioning climate change, but they are seeing the impacts of climate change affecting their lives every day,” Petruska says. “Generally, when I asked about conservation, every one of them thought it was important. They’ve seen the change in the weather. It’s right in front of their eyes.” Austin praised the enthusiasm and commitment Petruska brought to her project. “She’s driven, she’s curious. And she has an open mind. That’s the best set of qualities for a student embarking on this type of project,” Austin says. “Margaux took the initiative and was always up early, ready to get out there. She was willing to hike to the highest peak to get to a village and an area of the district that she hadn’t been to before.” After graduating with her master’s in May 2023, Petruska will apply for jobs in research or policy work with environmental advocacy organizations. She also plans to return to Uganda in summer 2023 to be a program leader in Lehigh’s program with PDI and to work on a new project related to ecotourism. A new trail is opening that could be developed into a highly desirable hiking trail in the Mount Elgon region. The area’s natural beauty could be leveraged to draw more tourists, bringing economic benefit while sustaining the environment. She is eager to share what she has found there and promote positive interest in the region. “The beauty of it is insane,” she says. “I’ve never seen any place like it. It is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.” ● Working with Dez Zaale, the youngest son of PDI’s founders, as her interpreter, Petruska conducted most interviews in “man on the street” fashion, stopping people in the small trading centers and asking to interview them. Her only scheduled interviews were with officials. The openness of the people was a hallmark of her experience. “They’re very welcoming and friendly,” she says. A key issue examined in her research concerns farmers whose land overlaps the boundaries of Mount Elgon National Park. At one time, penalties were not enforced for farmlands that encroached park territory. Stricter policies to help curb deforestation and erosion have changed that. Now farmers are expected to file a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to get official permission to use the park land. The research is showing a disconnect between the two sides. Officials interviewed described the MOU as easy to obtain. Petruska’s research shows that for poor farmers living on $1 a day, traveling the 21 miles to Mbale, the nearest city, to file the MOU with the Uganda Wildlife Authority is a hardship. Some residents shared stories of beatings and punishments if they were caught violating the park boundaries. They also formerly were permitted park access to gather firewood and herbs. Both residents and officials interviewed appear to have a mutual understanding that conservation efforts are important, Petruska said. Deforestation and accompanying soil erosion contribute to the devastating landslides that have marked the region. So does the almost daily rainfall that has become markedly heavier with climate change. Quinnlyn Burger ’22 (left) and Margaux Petruska ’21 ’23G at the Zaale homestay.
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