DR. JESSE MONTES

Areas of Expertise

Landscape Ethnoecology, Indigenous Knowledge, Ecotourism, Post-structural analysis, Neoliberalism, Polticial Ecology

Brief Bio

My ambition as a professional has always been to be inspired by the work that I do. I love connecting with my surroundings, which is illustrated by my numerous hobbies (hiking, camping, fishing, and photography), but I also enjoy meaningfully connecting with the people around me. I have travelled the world as an environmental professional working with rural communities, private companies, academic institutions, and various levels of government in places such as Bhutan, China, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, and also closer to home in Canada.

I have expertise in the fields of social sciences, environmental management, policy analysis and community development. Most recently I have been working as a public servant for the provincial government of British Columbia (Canada) in the area of Land Use Planning. Before that I served as a Senior Lecturer teaching at the university level from 2013-2020 and have published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles from 2018-2020. My PhD was awarded from Wageningen University in the field of Social Sciences (Political Ecology), my Masters was received from the University of Manitoba in the field of Natural Resources Management, and I also hold a BA in Environmental Studies & Psychology from King's University. Areas of specialization include: policy analysis, environmental impact assessment, research, stakeholder consultation, and ethnoecology.

Publications (Weblink only), if any:

Montes, J., Kafley, B., and Dema, T. (2020). Territory, relationality and the labour of deities: Importing Raffestin on the Bhutanese spiritual landscape. Rig Tshoel, 3(1), 27-45.

Montes, J., Tshering, S., Phuntsho, T., and Fletcher, R. (2020). Cosmological subjectivities: exploring ‘truth’ environmentalities in Haa Highlands. Conservation & Society. DOI: 184.151.230.181

Montes, J.(2020) Neoliberal environmentality in the land of Gross National Happiness. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 3(2), 300-322. DOI: 10.1177/2514848619834885

Montes, J. (2019). Environmental Governance in Bhutan: Ecotourism, Environmentality and Cosmological Subjectivities. Doctorate Dissertation. Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

Montes, J., Kafley, B., Subba, D., Dema, T., Dendup, T. and Selden, P. (2019). Ecotourism and Social Cohesion: Contrasting Phobjikha and Laya Experiences. Rig Tshoel, 2(1), 23-44.

Montes, J. and Kafley, B. (2019). Ecotourism discourses in Bhutan: contested perceptions and values. Tourism Geographies. DOI:10.1080/14616688.2019.1618905

Montes, J. and Bhattarai, S.R. (2018). Buddhist Biopower? – Variegated governmentality in Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Agenda. Geoforum, 96, 207-216.

Montes, J., Tshering, S., Phuntsho, T., Kagoda, D., Kafley, B., Wangmo, M., Subba, M.M., Wangmo, T., Jangchuk, Dendup, T. (2018). Assessing Sustainability of Ecotourism Ventures in Bhutan. Rig Tshoel, 1(1), 5-22.

Spaling, H., Montes, J., and Sinclair, J. (2011). Best Practices for Promoting Participation and Learning for Sustainability: Lessons from community based environmental assessment in Kenya and Tanzania. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Manag