Kelly Jones
Kelly Jones
Appointment: Professor
Email: kwjones@nmsu.edu
Expertise: Human dimensions of conservation; Environmental economics; Evidence-based conservation; Social-ecological systems research
Jones Publications
Kelly Jones is a Professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology and is based at the John T. Harrington Forestry Research Center in Mora, New Mexico. She is an environmental economist and conservation social scientist whose research focuses on improving conservation and restoration outcomes for both people and ecosystems. Her work examines how individuals, communities, and organizations make decisions about natural resource management and how those decisions influence environmental and social outcomes.
Conservation challenges are ultimately human challenges. Whether restoring forests after wildfire, protecting watersheds, conserving wildlife, or adapting to climate change, successful conservation depends on understanding how people make decisions and how institutions shape those decisions. Dr. Jones combines economic and social science methods—including surveys, interviews, impact evaluation, and stakeholder engagement—to examine how people respond to conservation interventions and which policies, incentives, and governance approaches lead to meaningful environmental and social outcomes. Current work focuses on the human dimensions of wildfire resilience and post-fire restoration, nature-based solutions for forest conservation and watershed protection, and strategies that support human-wildlife coexistence. This research spans the western United States, Latin America, and eastern Africa. Through applied research conducted in partnership with landowners, communities, practitioners, and decision-makers, Dr. Jones seeks to bridge the gap between science and practice while training students to address complex environmental challenges.