For the last nine years, Augustana alum (‘11) Rob Green has traveled the world working on written storytelling and photojournalism projects. Now earning his Master’s in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana in Missoula, Green has the opportunity to apply his passion for environmental advocacy to research in Guatemala, Ghana and Montana.
Green first visited Guatemala during his final semester at Augustana. Since then, he’s returned to the country five times, drawn by a culture that fascinates him.
“That first trip absolutely turned me on to how difficult, how messy and how important conservation challenges are in the 21st century,” Green said.
Nine years after his first experience in Guatemala, Green is now working there in the Maya Biosphere Reserve on issues of environmental degradation like poaching, illegal lumber trade and slash and burn agriculture. Through photography and camera trapping — using cameras equipped with infrared triggers — Green said he is trying to amplify the indigenous voices that are already involved in environmental advocacy.
“There are already a lot of really good organizations down there that have answers and are working really, really hard,” Green said. “I think that the opportunity I have there is purely focused on giving them whatever extra resources they need and attention they need and awareness they need to keep doing what they do.”
Green has also worked on environmental journalism in Ghana with a Ghanian researcher from Southern Georgia University who was focusing on the impacts of poor regulation on meat production. The work, published in The American Scholar, highlighted how meat producers singe their products over tire fires, distributing toxic meat to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores and schools.
Through the University of Montana, Green is involved with a conservation initiative called the Black Foot Challenge. Through the initiative, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations and state entities collaborate on how people, wildlife and landscapes can cohabitat in a healthy environment.
“The work I’ll be doing with them is setting up camera traps, working on visual storytelling and written storytelling to articulate why this place matters, why people should care about place and why people should care about the culture that’s tied to place,” Green said.
Green first picked up a camera for environmental advocacy when he was working as a wilderness EMT and back-country guide in Central and South America. After constantly encountering the same people and issues again and again, Green started documenting the environment around him, eventually turning to the University of Montana to find “grounded, experienced mentors” that could help him grow as a photographer. Green hopes to continue that growth as he works in Guatemala and Montana.
“People keep working and keep pushing to get better at what they do and to make loud noises for causes that matter,” Green said. “We’ll keep trying to shoot and write and get stories published.”