Failure is the Greatest Teacher
Embracing the Positives of Failure in Primate Conservation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11279825 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Amanda D Webber (0000-0001-5443-4427, University of the West of England, corresponding author), Sam Cotton (0000-0002-5769-7983, Bristol Zoological Society), Gráinne McCabe (0000-0002-6235-0212, Bristol Zoological Society), Gráinne M McCabe |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 1095-1109 |
| Publication date | 2022-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Primatology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0164-0291 • E-ISSN: 1573-8604 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s10764-022-00296-w |
| OpenAlex | W4280570334 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 33 |
“Failure” is recognised as being vital for success in many fields but is seldom embraced in primate conservation or conservation more generally. In this paper, we use examples from the literature, particularly around reintroduction, to reflect on failure and consider the contribution it can make to primate conservation success. Barriers to acknowledging failure are highlighted and include concerns regarding reputational damage that impact on communication with funders, publishing, and discussing our projects more widely. We also discuss the need for a broader and adaptive approach to include multiple steps of experimentation, reflection, and subsequent learning. This process, which necessarily includes failures and the results of unintended consequences, will require primatologists to use a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and reflective approach to effectively address factors that contribute to failure, including those external to the traditional focus of primatologists. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for progressing in this area, including (i) Funding—funders to incorporate greater flexibility in response to project change and to specifically ask grantees to consider risk, failure, and lessons learnt, and funders and grantees to improve dialogue; (ii) Publishing—journals to have a section that considers failure and lessons learnt and, along with societies, to further engage with researchers from the Global South about the best ways to support with publishing; and (iii) Communication—primate conservationists to lead by example and reflect/discuss failure openly and to create spaces that encourage sharing of these topics. Whilst not exhaustive, we hope that these recommendations will contribute to developing a culture of constructive discussion around failure in primate conservation
Animal ecology · Biology · Constructive · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Management · Political science · Public relations · Publishing · Amphibian and Reptile Biology · Computer Science · Domain Adaptation and Few-Shot Learning · Engineering · Primate Behavior and Ecology · Ecology
Revisiting “Success” and “Failure” of Marine Protected Areas
Using perceptions as evidence to improve conservation and environmental management
Ten principles for a landscape approach to reconciling agriculture, conservation, and other competing land uses
Darting Primates in the Field
Reproducing injustice
The Current Status of the World’s Primates
What can be learned from growth mindset controversies
In Pursuit of Knowledge
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |