Giselle Cruzado Melendez
PhD Student
email Giselle.cruzadomelendez@anu.edu.au

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About

Giselle is a Peruvian mestiza living in Ngunnawal Country, which is known as Canberra in Australia. She is a passionate forester who holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry engineering from UNALM-Peru and a Master of Science in Forest Resources (Conservation of Ecosystems) from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Currently, she is undertaking a PhD at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, looking to engage with Aboriginal women to explore how their participation in natural resources-based value chains enables women to fulfil their aspirations. 
 
Giselle has experience working with independent, non-governmental organizations and various Indigenous communities in Peru, primarily in Integrated Conservation and Development Projects. As a forester practitioner, she has had the opportunity to work closely with Indigenous women and men from the Peruvian forests, aiming to tackle problems such as illegal deforestation, achieve sustainable forest practices, and explore economic alternatives, for example, their participation in the non-timber forest products markets. 
 
Giselle is interested in continuing to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, particularly with Indigenous women, to provide safe spaces and platforms for their community-led and individual initiatives. Theoretically, Giselle delves into the topic of Women, Culture, and Development. 

Affiliations

Publications

Peer-reviewed articles 

Cruzado Melendez, G. (2025). Hybrid economies in practice, Groote Eylandt, Australia. Women as Stewards of Forests, (Tropical Forest issues 63). https://doi.org/10.55515/HAFS9510 

Santiago, C. M.; Pimentel, D.S.; Melendez, G.C. 2015. O uso de indicadores na identificação e gestão dos impactos culturais do turismo. Revista Ibero-americana de Ciências Ambientais 6: 40-53. https://doi.org/10.6008/SPC2179-6858.2015.001.0004

Ferronato, B.O.; Cruzado, G. M. 2013. Uses, beliefs and conservation of turtles by Ashaninka indigenous people, central Peru. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 12: 308-313. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1025.1

Book Chapter

Cruzado Melendez, G., & Kanowski, P. (2022). Community forestry in Australia: Caring for Country, land, and the bush. In Routledge Handbook of Community Forestry (pp. 120-138). Routledge.

 

Masters Dissertation

Cruzado, G. M. (2007). Uso tradicional de "Potsotaroki" (Trichilia pallida) e a confecção de artesanato em uma Comunidade Indígena Asháninka, nas Áreas Protegidas de Vilcabamba, Peru. Master's Dissertation, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba. https://doi.org/10.11606/D.11.2007.tde-07052007-145602
 

Monograph

Cruzado, G.M (2011). Forest resources and Ashaninka Traditional knowledge. Case study: Trichilia pallida as a natural dye. Monograph based on professional work experience to achieve Engineering degree. Unversidad  Nacional Agraria La Molina. Lima, Peru. UNALM library.