Decolonizing biodiversity conservation

Bibliographic Data

ID4302136
AuthorsEsteve Corbera (0000-0001-7970-4411, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona, corresponding author), Sara Maestre-André (0000-0003-3971-5209, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona), Yolanda Ariadne Collins (0000-0003-4138-9158, University of St Andrews), Mathew Bukhi Mabele (0000-0002-2460-2415, The University of Dodoma), Dan Brockington (0000-0001-5692-0154, Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona)
Year2024
Volume28
Issue1
Publication date2024-01-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Political Ecology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1073-0451 • E-ISSN: 1073-0451
PublisherUniversity of Arizona (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2458/jpe.5969
OpenAlexW4390891296
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited24

Decolonizing biodiversity conservation science and practice involves a transition towards more locally rooted, plural, socially just, and convivial forms of conservation, moving away from mainstream conservation approaches, such as protected areas, sustainable resource management plans, or market-based instruments that are strongly rooted in Eurocentric ontologies and epistemologies. In this article, we introduce and review the contributions to the special issue "Decolonizing biodiversity conservation" and we identify six principles that can be thought of as starting points in efforts to decolonize conservation: recognition, reparation, epistemic disobedience, relationality, power subversion, and limits. We explain how these principles feature in the collection's contributions and how they can contribute to decolonizing conservation science, policy, and practice. We also acknowledge that there can be differences over meaning and emphasis regarding the principles among Indigenous and local peoples, scholars, and practitioners. Yet we think that their implementation can result in subtler and less universalizing conservation approaches

Biodiversity · Biodiversity conservation · Biology · Conservation psychology · Economics · Environmental ethics · Environmental resource management · Epistemology · Indigenous · Mainstream · Plural · Political science · Sociology · Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Law · Philosophy · Ecology