Lobster in the Rain Forest: The Political Ecology of Miskito Wage Labor and Agricultural Deforestation

Abstract

A political ecological research orientation elucidates the effects of Miskito wage work
in the Honduran lobster export industry. Miskito wage labor conserves local rain forest by displacing agricultural deforestation pressure into wages. These wages, however, are
earned in an industry that depletes Caribbean lobster populations and which increases risk of injury and death to divers.

Key words: political ecology; deforestation; swidden agriculture; fisheries;
conservation