Navigating power in conservation

Shackleton, Ross T.; Walters, Gretchen; Bluwstein, Jevgeniy; Djoudi, Houria; Fritz, Livia; Micheaux, Flore Lafaye de; Loloum, Tristan; Nguyen, Van Hai Thi; Sithole, Samantha S.; Andriamahefazafy, Mialy; Kull, Christian A.

doi:10.1111/csp2.12877

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 163 publications

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“…Biodiversity conservation is governed by a plurality of values (IPBES 2022). These values, as well as the power-laden processes that legitimize them, should be openly addressed for effective conservation efforts (Shackleton et al 2023;Beck et al 2021). Thus, the influence of the Red List on the global agenda precludes alternative viewpoints, cultures, regional intricacies, and human communities that will ultimately achieve on-the-ground species protection.…”

Section: Broadening Species Conservation Effortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global influence of the IUCN Red List can hinder species conservation efforts

Palacio,

Abarca,

Armenteras

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is an extinction risk assessment tool that has guided species conservation over the last five decades. However, as wildlife scientists and conservationists, we argue that its influence on the global conservation agenda can hinder effective species conservation efforts. Here, we review the limitations of the Red List and its misuse in priority setting, which can overlook local and regional contexts. This can result in improper allocation of conservation resources, especially in the Global South, where financial resources are limited. In particular, funds directed towards red-listed species may fail to address a broader range of conservation priorities. We also contend that extinction risk is insufficient for guiding conservation efforts and recommend broadening conservation planning and decision-making beyond reliance on the Red List. Thus, for a more inclusive and decentralized approach, we summarize guidelines for guiding species conservation at appropriate ecological, spatial, and taxonomic scales. Finally, we encourage more collaborative efforts and stakeholder engagement for the setting of conservation priorities and efficient funding allocation.

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Section: Broadening Species Conservation Effortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global influence of the IUCN Red List can hinder species conservation efforts

Palacio,

Abarca,

Armenteras

et al. 2023

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Moreover, both R21 and R22 noted the general lack of public involvement, commenting that "the public is not really involved, not any kind of citizen science, and limited engagement with Aboriginal peoples." The latter in particular represents a potential obstacle for such efforts to have a more deeply radical impact, in the sense of Morrison et al [1] and is reminiscent of well documented tensions and power imbalances in conservation efforts more generally [58]. With regard to public acceptability, R23 also touched on the issue of costs, and how sustaining a cloud brightening program for the GBR would amount to "hundreds of millions to a billion dollars a year, easily, and that's only assuming you did the whole reef at once every year, but the whole reef doesn't bleach, nor does it bleach the whole year.…”

Section: Plos Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, they noted the broad need to engage with and create space for Traditional Owners and their understanding of ecosystems, specifically asserting that "self-determination and indigenous knowledge are two sides of the same coin". The limitations and challenges observed by some interviewees with regard to the inclusion of indigenous communities remind us that putting those principles and ideals in practice requires engagement with diverse values and assumptions of actions, as well as acknowledgement that also engagement processes and participatory schemes can be imbued by power relations [58]. R20 added that even though "the restoration regulation space is very nascent, what's going on in the Great Barrier Reef is super-duper compared to everywhere else, it has a restoration policy, adapting fisheries policies to accommodate for restoration, strong educational and outreach programs, and a platform that facilitates the respectful inclusion of 72 Traditional Owner Groups in the region that have a claim to owning sea country or forest territory.…”

Section: Plos Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef

Sovacool,

Baum,

Low

et al. 2023

PLOS Clim

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Given the inadequacy of current patterns of climate mitigation, calls for rapid climate protection are beginning to explore and endorse potentially radical options. Based on fieldwork involving original expert interviews (N = 23) and extensive site visits (N = 23) in Australia, this empirical study explores four types of climate interventions spanning climate differing degrees of radicalism: adaptation, solar geoengineering, forestry and ecosystems restoration, and carbon removal. It examines ongoing efforts to engage in selective breeding and assisted adaptation of coral species to be introduced on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as to implement regional solar geoengineering in the form of fogging and marine cloud brightening. It also examines related attempts at both nature-based and engineered forms of carbon removal vis-à-vis ecosystem restoration via forestry conservation and reforestation in the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, and enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinization. This portfolio of climate interventions challenges existing categorizations and typologies of climate action. Moreover, the study identifies positive synergies and coupling between the options themselves, but also lingering trade-offs and risks needing to be taken into account. It discusses three inductive themes which emerged from the qualitative data: complexity and coupling, risk and multi-scalar effects, and radicality and governance. It elucidates these themes with an attempt to generalize lessons learned for other communities around the world considering climate interventions to protect forests, preserve coral reefs, or implement carbon removal and solar geoengineering.

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“…Creating new spaces for previously excluded groups to participate is insufficient. An important factor for predicting success or failure of such complex participatory initiatives is the early understanding and appropriate inclusion of social dynamics, including power (Shackleton et al, 2023). Wider attention to power relations in conservation will help better tailor efforts to address conflicts in conservation and ensure fair and sustainable conservation practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of understanding the multiple dimensions of power in stakeholder participation for effective biodiversity conservation

Lécuyer,

Balian,

Butler

et al. 2024

People and Nature

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Biodiversity conservation are increasingly focused on involving stakeholder engagement, making power a key concept in understanding its success and failure. Power is often conceptualized as unidimensional and coercive, but a multidimensional view better reflects structural power, as well as its productive and enabling potential. This paper investigates how different dimensions of power in participatory processes affect biodiversity conservation objectives. Six case studies from Europe and Asia‐Pacific were analysed using an adapted framework that explores the interlinkages between ‘power over’ and ‘transformative power’, looking at the scale and space in which power occurs, and analysing in which arenas of power and under which form of expression it appears. The framework distinguishes between the different ways to exert influence (‘power to’, ‘power with’, ‘power within’, ‘power for’), as well as the dynamics of domination and resistance observed in decision‐making (visible power), hidden biases and exclusionary experiences (hidden power), and actions that either reinforce or resist social norms and beliefs (invisible and systematic power). Focusing on biodiversity, the different arenas of power allow us to go deeper than the surface issues and conflicting interests of diverse participants, regarding for example wildlife, to question underlying power dynamics. Different expressions of power, more specifically the ‘power for’ dimension, allow an understanding of how participants integrate nature and biodiversity in their aspirations. The different levels of power also highlight the need to focus not only on the local level but to analyse how participatory processes are embedded in national, or even international governance in a globalized world. Finally, they shed light on two challenges in participatory processes regarding biodiversity: the representation of non‐human interests (designated here as ‘beyond‐human’ voices), and the integration of multiple forms of knowledge systems. Synthesis and applications: Integrating power into biodiversity issues involves deconstructing normalized discourses that focus solely on certain more powerful human agents, their interests and scientific knowledge, and creating new narratives, knowledge and embodied practice of learning and action to encompass a wider diversity of voices and views. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Navigating power in conservation

Cited by 15 publications

References 163 publications

The global influence of the IUCN Red List can hinder species conservation efforts

The global influence of the IUCN Red List can hinder species conservation efforts

Coral reefs, cloud forests and radical climate interventions in Australia’s Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef

The importance of understanding the multiple dimensions of power in stakeholder participation for effective biodiversity conservation

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