A brave new world: integrating well-being and conservation

Biedenweg, Kelly; Gross-Camp, Nicole

doi:10.5751/es-09977-230232

Cited by 22 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…For example, there is a growing interest in environmental justice in the conservation movement, in which the focus turns to how wealth, opportunities, and privileges are distributed within society (Brechin et al 2002, Martin et al 2013, Shoreman-Ouimet and Kopnina 2015. This implies an interpretation of conservation in which the fundamental objectives of both social and ecological systems are prioritized in tandem, rather than narrowly focusing on environmental protection without consideration of the social landscape (Biedenweg and Gross-Camp 2018). The Partnership supported this approach by identifying the rich cultural heritage, attractive Lowcountry lifestyle, and high demand for EGS as important opportunities for conservation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building adaptive capacity in a coastal region experiencing global change

Johnson¹,

Eaton²,

Mikels-Carrasco³

et al. 2020

E&S

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Coastal ecosystems in the eastern U.S. have been severely altered by human development, and climate change and other stressors are now further degrading the capacity of those ecological and social systems to remain resilient in the face of such disturbances. We sought to identify potential ways in which local conservation interests in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (USA) could participate in a social process of adaptation planning, and how that process might ultimately be broadened to engage a more diverse set of partners. We engaged participants through a combination of informal meetings, workshops, and other collaborative interactions to explore how the conservation community perceives and pursues its various missions, and how that community might confront the threats and opportunities in its future. Coproduction of knowledge and meaning were facilitated by collaborative scenario planning and strategic planning evaluation, which illuminated how the conservation community is integral to the broader governance of the region and highlighted how responses to forces of change are mediated through local culture, economics, and politics. We suggest an interpretation of conservation in which the fundamental objectives of both social and ecological systems might be prioritized in tandem, rather than narrowly focusing on environmental protection without consideration of the social landscape. Ultimately, adaptive capacity depends on the ability to act collectively, and social capital, trust, and organization greatly influence the capacity to act. Thus, we conclude that the presence of strong social networks, coordination and deliberation among diverse stakeholders, mechanisms for experiential feedback, and emphasis on social learning are key elements needed to build adaptive capacity. Central to the evolving perspective of governance of the commons is recognition that social and ecological systems are coupled; the issues and problems of one cannot be addressed without considering the consequences for the other. Moreover, a dominant theme emerging from our research and that of other scholars is the importance of culture and place attachment, which generates social cohesion and facilitates problem solving. These ideas have important implications for when, where, and how stakeholders are engaged to address the rapid changes being experienced by socialecological systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building adaptive capacity in a coastal region experiencing global change

Johnson¹,

Eaton²,

Mikels-Carrasco³

et al. 2020

E&S

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Section: Regional Focus Area: the Dry Deciduous Forests Of Western Mamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As countries and regions differ in their demographics, geographies and governance [31], and are differently affected by climate change and biodiversity threats [32], we selected one regional example which promises high conservation payoff (in terms of biodiversity protection): the dry deciduous forest in western Madagascar. Madagascar is one of many developing countries rich in biodiversity and natural resources, but economically highly disadvantaged [33].…”

Section: Regional Focus Area: the Dry Deciduous Forests Of Western Mamentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Key Knowledge Gaps to Better Protect Biodiversity and Simultaneously Secure Livelihoods in a Priority Conservation Area

Frank

Schäffler

2019

Sustainability

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Global agreements like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Achi Biodiversity Targets (ABTs) aim to secure human well-being and to protect biodiversity, but little progress has been made in reaching these aims. The key role of biodiversity in securing human well-being is rarely considered a priority – instead short-term economic profits benefiting a few are prioritized. Particularly where local livelihoods rely on resources of protected areas for immediate survival, top-down enforced biodiversity conservation often increases social inequality, hunger and poverty and thus regularly fails. Identifying key knowledge gaps helps to adjust political priority setting and investment strategies to assess conservation threats and improve natural resource management. Since acting usually occurs at a local or regional scale, we focused on a priority conservation area in one of the world’s poorest countries — the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. We aimed to identify key knowledge gaps in this area which need to be filled to better protect biodiversity and simultaneously ensure well-being of the local poor. We consulted 51 predominantly Malagasy experts using questionnaires. These questionnaires listed 71 knowledge gaps we collated from the literature which the experts were asked to rank by importance. Experts were encouraged to list additional knowledge gaps. Averaging the scores of all experts, we identified the top 10 knowledge gaps. Two political knowledge gaps addressing the need to determine strategies which improve law enforcement and reduce corruption ranked highest, followed by an ecological one concerning appropriate restoration and a socio–economic one regarding economic benefits locals gain from biodiversity. The general knowledge gap perceived as most important addressed strategies for long-term funding. Only one additional knowledge gap was identified: the impact of climate change-driven human migration from southwestern to central western Madagascar on socio–economic problems and its impacts on natural resources We linked the identified top 10 knowledge gaps as well as the additional knowledge gap suggested by experts to the SDGs, ABTs and 2 °C target of the Paris Climate Agreement, and discussed why these gaps were considered a priority. This research highlights important ecological, socio–economic and political research priorities and provides guidelines for policy makers and funding organizations.

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“…In the midst of innovating biocultural approaches to collaborative co-management of social-ecological systems on multiple scales, it is essential to share the perspective of indigenous-driven efforts highlighting the importance of relationships, values and principles in guiding equitable and effective long-term outcomes in mainstream conservation [14]. These types of partnerships also serve as a mechanism for social justice and require engagement around issues of community capacity building, differential power dynamics, and the lessons from research and management partnerships [13,16,22,26,40,41,43]. It is important to acknowledge the need to decolonize Western discourse in research and create space for indigenous people to represent themselves [36].…”

Section: Strengthening Indigenous-driven Initiatives To Support Resilmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous approaches have woven cultural, social, and ecological into many cords of knowledge that have the power to address social justice and equity of costs and benefits, and the impact of conservation actions on cultural identity [13]. This is part of a rise in broadening the definition and advocating for self-determination of indigenous communities within conservation where communities define well-being [43]. However, because conservation goals do not always align with a collective solution developed from indigenous communities, it takes long-term commitment and personal investment to building relationships, trust, and reciprocal partnerships with indigenous communities in conservation.…”

Section: Pilina and Reciprocity Within Conservation And Research Partmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nā Kilo ʻĀina: Visions of Biocultural Restoration through Indigenous Relationships between People and Place

et al. 2018

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Within the realm of multifaceted biocultural approaches to restoring resource abundance, it is increasingly clear that resource-management strategies must account for equitable outcomes rooted in an understanding that biological and social-ecological systems are one. Here, we present a case study of the Nā Kilo aĀ ina Program (NKA)-one approach to confront today's complex social, cultural, and biological management challenges through the lens of biocultural monitoring, community engagement, and capacity building. Through a series of initiatives, including Huli a Ia, Pilinakai, Annual Nohona Camps, and Kūka a i Laulaha International Exchange Program, NKA aims to empower communities to strengthen reciprocal pilina (relationships) between people and place, and to better understand the realistic social, cultural, and ecological needs to support aā ina momona, a state of thriving, abundant and productive people and places. After 10 years of implementation, NKA has established partnerships with communities, state/federal agencies, and local schools across the Hawaiian Islands to address broader social and cultural behavior changes needed to improve resource management. Ultimately, NKA creates a platform to innovate local management strategies and provides key contributions to guiding broader indigenous-driven approaches to conservation that restore and support resilient social-ecological systems.

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A brave new world: integrating well-being and conservation

Cited by 22 publications

References 14 publications

Building adaptive capacity in a coastal region experiencing global change

Building adaptive capacity in a coastal region experiencing global change

Identifying Key Knowledge Gaps to Better Protect Biodiversity and Simultaneously Secure Livelihoods in a Priority Conservation Area

Nā Kilo ʻĀina: Visions of Biocultural Restoration through Indigenous Relationships between People and Place

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