Conserving Nature, but to What end?

Abstract

The author examines various cases of conservation policies in practice, and the implication of those practices in terms of the ecologies they support, showing, in the end, that the “nature” being preserved is not always the one intended. In doing this, insights are also gleaned to inform how we should do environmental sociology, and what lies in environmental sociology's future if we work toward this end. The author argues that environmental sociology needs to become more environmental: to be willing to understand sociobiophysical relationships in all their complexity, even in those cases that require a well-grounded understanding of ecosystem processes. Thus, although retaining focus on the historical subject, which shapes conceptions of and ultimately practices toward ecology, we must also begin to view this subject as also an ecological object. The implications of such an analytic move, in terms of what it means for environmental sociology's future, are then discussed.

Controlled Flooding in the Grand Canyon

“…As Carolan (2006) notes, "Traditional conservation policy rests on the belief that it (policy) is not part of the ecology that it seeks to protect" (p. 153). Such a mind-set obscures the degree to which policies often alter the ecologies they seek to preserve in an unanticipated, unintentional manner (Carolan, 2005(Carolan, , 2006.…”

“…As Carolan (2006) notes, "Traditional conservation policy rests on the belief that it (policy) is not part of the ecology that it seeks to protect" (p. 153). Such a mind-set obscures the degree to which policies often alter the ecologies they seek to preserve in an unanticipated, unintentional manner (Carolan, 2005(Carolan, , 2006. I would extend this observation to suggest sustainability necessitates sketching an ontological vision of the social and the natural that recognizes the vibrancy of the nonhuman without lapsing into essentialism or neo-animism.…”

The Premises and Promises of Trolls in Norwegian Biodiversity Preservation

“…Environmental Management (2012) 49:942-953 943 According to Carolan (2006), the linear view not only overinflates the capabilities of science, it also constrains the possibilities of policy. Norwegian studies also illustrate how regulations and measures do not clearly correspond to scientific reports (Rogne 2010;Bay-Larsen 2010).…”

“…As Asdal and Myklebust (1999, p. 138) claim, ''The promise of science to deliver the solutions [to the world's problems] is its most palpable force (and not the solution itself)''. The linear model describes environmental decision making as a process where scientists and politicians operate in separate spheres (Jasanoff 1987), and resting on the assumption that ''good'' policy necessarily comes from ''good'' science (Carolan 2006). The boundaries between these domains are of strategic importance for maintaining the credibility, authority and legitimacy of each of the spheres (Koetz and others 2011;Pielke 2007;Gieryn 1983).…”