New Hope for the Oceans: Engaging Faith-Based Communities in Marine Conservation

Abstract

Science alone cannot protect the oceans and their biological diversity. Whereas, scientists can identify problems and empirical steps toward their resolution, support for research, problem solving, and implementation of solutions must come from societal sources. Among the most promising are religious communities whose members are motivated by their faith to collaborate with marine scientists in achieving shared goals. Many reasons prevail for engaging faith communities in mitigating assaults on the oceans and protecting them from threats to their functioning. Participants in the open forum convened by the Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology during the 4th International Marine Conservation Congress shared their insights on (1) why and how marine researchers and conservation practitioners can best involve faith communities, (2) actions and attitudes that deter constructive engagement with faith communities, and (3) ways forward that the SCB should consider facilitating. Among ways forward identified are the Best Practices Project initiated recently by the RCBWG, adding cultural values and ethics as disciplines SCB members should probe when addressing conservation problems, regularly including cultural values and ethics in panels with other disciplines at international and regional SCB congresses, and appointing an associate editor of SCB publications who will assure the inclusion of articles in which religious and spiritual worldviews, values, and ethics are integrated with the conservation sciences.

The Efficacy of Using SCB Guidelines to Facilitate Conservation Science-Faith Collaboration: Experiences in the Field

“…The Pew Research Center reached similar conclusions when surveying AAAS members who are scientists (Masci, 2009). According to participants in the IMCC forum, these impediments to approaching faith leaders and communities are "self-inflicted" and must be overcome to make faith-conservation collaboration possible (Schaefer, 2017).…”

Sustainable Coastal and Marine Ecotourism: Opportunities and Benefits

“…Besides, there are many practices that promote marine conservation with local faiths. In surveying this problem, Schaefer (2017) opined that science and scientists alone cannot protect the oceans and marine biodiversity. The society has to come on board to solve the glaring problems with the marine ecosystem.…”

Responding to Small Island Nations Imperiled by Human-Forced Climate Change: An Ethical Imperative for Christians

“…One example is the Society for Conservation Biology's Best Practices Project to provide guidelines for conservation researchers and practitioners to consider when working with faith-based leaders and communities to achieve shared goals. 68…”