Evidence for shifting baseline syndrome in conservation

Abstract

Shifting baseline syndrome (SBS) is often referred to as a key issue for conservation, yet there is little evidence for its existence. The presence of SBS could influence the validity of participatory monitoring, local ecological knowledge, community based conservation, and conservation education. We outline two forms of SBS: (1) generational amnesia, where knowledge extinction occurs because younger generations are not aware of past biological conditions and (2) personal amnesia, where knowledge extinction occurs as individuals forget their own experience. Two conditions are essential to the identification of SBS: (1) biological change must be present in the system and (2) any perceived changes must be consistent with the biological data. If age or experiencerelated differences in perception are then found, generational amnesia may be occurring. Alternately, if individuals believe current conditions also occurred in the past, personal amnesia may be occurring. Previous studies have not fully addressed these conditions, and hence cannot provide indisputable evidence for the existence of SBS. We present three case studies to examine these issues, which demonstrate both forms of SBS. Shifting baseline syndrome is no longer a cautionary tale, but instead is a real problem for those using human perceptions of change to inform conservation policy-making or management.

Perceptions of trends in Seychelles artisanal trap fisheries: comparing catch monitoring, underwater visual census and fishers' knowledge

“…3, left). If these reported former catches do, in fact, refer to memorably good catches, then fishers would perceive more severe declines creating a 'memory illusion', in which declining trends are exaggerated or incorrectly perceived (Papworth et al 2009). Memory illusion operates in the opposite direction to the 'shifting-baseline syndrome', in which severity of declines is underestimated (Saenz-Arroyo et al 2005;Bunce et al 2007).…”

“…As such, more available memories, which may be pleasant, unusual or emotive for the individual (Matlin 2004), will appear to be more frequent and have a greater influence on the perception of past conditions. The 'shifting baseline syndrome' has also been reported to affect fishers' perceptions of deteriorating environmental conditions (Saenz-Arroyo et al 2005;Bunce et al 2007) and can operate at a societal level, as a result of younger generations being unaware of past abundance (termed generational amnesia), or as a result of individuals forgetting previous abundances (termed personal amnesia) (Papworth et al 2009). Holm (2003) characterized the process of researching and recording FK as the construction of a decontextualized knowledge, which he referred to as FEK * .…”

Phoenix flagships: Conservation values and guanaco reintroduction in an anthropogenic landscape

“…The role of shifting baselines and cultural memory in shaping support for species reintroductions and landscape restoration was also evident (Papworth et al 2009;Toledo et al 2011). The public appears to be largely unaware of the historical baseline of guanaco and espino populations coexisting in central Chile.…”

Conservation opportunities across the world's anthromes

“…Caro et al (2012) have argued that acknowledgement of the Anthropocene may 'cultivate hopelessness in those dedicated to conservation' and excuse, or even facilitate, land use for profit. Others worry that younger generations will accept increasingly degraded environments because of 'shifting baselines' (Papworth et al, 2008). Alternatively, we suggest that anthrome analyses can clarify the complementary roles that conservation areas and actions can have within the biosphere.…”