Niki is a PhD student in the School of Geography and Development and a Research Assistant for BARA. Her dissertation work focuses on the social and ecological impacts of payments for ecosystem services programs that aim to incentivize forest conservation in Guatemala. As a research assistant for BARA, Niki is investigating the possibilities for rejuvenating a binational environmental  network with Mexican community partners, called ARAN (Asociacion de Reforestacion en Ambos Nogales). This work has led her to examine the variety of initiatives surrounding environmental organization and education in Southern Arizona and Northern Sonora to evaluate the potential for increased collaborative activities across the border. With other BARA researchers and interns, she has teamed up with partners in Nogales, Sonora to build and maintain an eco-casa that demonstrates locally adapted green building geatures, such as composting toilets, fibrous concrete block, rainwater harvesting and xeriscaping.