Understanding and managing conservation conflicts
TL;DR: It is hypothesised that conservation outcomes will be less durable when conservationists assert their interests to the detriment of others and the efficacy of alternative conflict management approaches are evaluated.
Abstract: Conservation conflicts are increasing and need to be managed to minimise negative impacts on biodiversity, human livelihoods, and human well-being. Here, we explore strategies and case studies that highlight the long-term, dynamic nature of conflicts and the challenges to their management. Conflict management requires parties to recognise problems as shared ones, and engage with clear goals, a transparent evidence base, and an awareness of trade-offs. We hypothesise that conservation outcomes will be less durable when conservationists assert their interests to the detriment of others. Effective conflict management and long-term conservation benefit will be enhanced by better integration of the underpinning social context with the material impacts and evaluation of the efficacy of alternative conflict management approaches.
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TL;DR: It is shown how the equity impacts of PES can create positive and negative feedbacks that influence ecological outcomes, and cautioned against equity-blind PES, which overlooks these relationships as a result of a primary and narrow focus on economic efficiency.
Abstract: Although conservation efforts have sometimes succeeded in meeting environmental goals at the expense of equity considerations, the changing context of conservation and a growing body of evidence increasingly suggest that equity considerations should be integrated into conservation planning and implementation. However, this approach is often perceived to be at odds with the prevailing focus on economic efficiency that characterizes many payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes. Drawing from examples across the literature, we show how the equity impacts of PES can create positive and negative feedbacks that influence ecological outcomes. We caution against equity-blind PES, which overlooks these relationships as a result of a primary and narrow focus on economic efficiency. We call for further analysis and better engagement between the social and ecological science communities to understand the relationships and trade-offs among efficiency, equity, and ecological outcomes.
446 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize and synthesize factors that contribute to conflict, approaches that mitigate conflict and encourage coexistence, and emerging trends and debates in the field of conservation and coexistence.
Abstract: Human interactions with wildlife are a defining experience of human existence. These interactions can be positive or negative. People compete with wildlife for food and resources, and have eradicated dangerous species; co-opted and domesticated valuable species; and applied a wide range of social, behavioral, and technical approaches to reduce negative interactions with wildlife. This conflict has led to the extinction and reduction of numerous species and uncountable human deaths and economic losses. Recent advances in our understanding of conflict have led to a growing number of positive conservation and coexistence outcomes. I summarize and synthesize factors that contribute to conflict, approaches that mitigate conflict and encourage coexistence, and emerging trends and debates. Fertile areas for scholarship include scale and complexity, models and scenarios, understanding generalizable patterns, expanding boundaries of what is considered conflict, using new tools and technologies, information sharing...
439 citations
TL;DR: A general causal theory is presented to explain why human societies gained the capacity to globally alter the patterns, processes, and dynamics of ecology and how these anthropogenic alterations unfold over time and space as societies themselves change over human generational time.
Abstract: Humans, unlike any other multicellular species in Earth's history, have emerged as a global force that is transforming the ecology of an entire planet. It is no longer possible to understand, predict, or successfully manage ecological pattern, process, or change without understanding why and how humans reshape these over the long term. Here, a general causal theory is presented to explain why human societies gained the capacity to globally alter the patterns, processes, and dynamics of ecology and how these anthropogenic alterations unfold over time and space as societies themselves change over human generational time. Building on existing theories of ecosystem engineering, niche construction, inclusive inheritance, cultural evolution, ultrasociality, and social change, this theory of anthroecological change holds that sociocultural evolution of subsistence regimes based on ecosystem engineering, social specialization, and non-kin exchange, or “sociocultural niche construction,” is the main cause of both the long-term upscaling of human societies and their unprecedented transformation of the biosphere. Human sociocultural niche construction can explain, where classic ecological theory cannot, the sustained transformative effects of human societies on biogeography, ecological succession, ecosystem processes, and the ecological patterns and processes of landscapes, biomes, and the biosphere. Anthroecology theory generates empirically testable hypotheses on the forms and trajectories of long-term anthropogenic ecological change that have significant theoretical and practical implications across the subdisciplines of ecology and conservation. Though still at an early stage of development, anthroecology theory aligns with and integrates established theoretical frameworks including social–ecological systems, social metabolism, countryside biogeography, novel ecosystems, and anthromes. The “fluxes of nature” are fast becoming “cultures of nature.” To investigate, understand, and address the ultimate causes of anthropogenic ecological change, not just the consequences, human sociocultural processes must become as much a part of ecological theory and practice as biological and geophysical processes are now. Strategies for achieving this goal and for advancing ecological science and conservation in an increasingly anthropogenic biosphere are presented.
397 citations
Cites background from "Understanding and managing conserva..."
...…this, it is more necessary than ever to integrate sociocultural understanding into conservation (WaltnerToews et al. 2003, Mooney et al. 2013, Redpath et al. 2013, Ives and Kendal 2014, Kueffer and KaiserBunbury 2014, Mace 2014, Palomo et al. 2014, Poe et al. 2014), and to consider flexible…...
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TL;DR: The science underpinning contemporary approaches to forest restoration practice is synthesized and some major approaches for altering structure in degraded forest stands are presented, and approaches for restoration of two key ecosystem processes, fire and flooding are described.
370 citations
TL;DR: The conservation conflict transformation (CCT) approach as mentioned in this paper is a new perspective on, and approach to, how conservationists identify, understand, prevent, and reconcile conflict in conservation issues.
357 citations
Cites background from "Understanding and managing conserva..."
...Even when more effective stakeholder engagement is suggested or conducted, as in Barlow et al., 2010; Redpath et al., 2013; Treves et al., 2009, conservation practitioners may not have the skills or capacity to design and lead effective processes that transform destructive conflict into productive…...
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...…or poorly managed conflict, including socalled human-wildlife conflict, represents an increasingly difficult obstacle to the effective management and conservation of many species of wildlife around the world (Madden, 2004; Michalski et al., 2006; Peterson et al., 2013; Redpath et al., 2013)....
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...…focus of conservationists tends to steer dialogue toward the wildlife itself (or ecosystems) and away from the impact that conservation decisions and actions may have on a person’s psychology, culture, beliefs, values, or history (Clark, 2002; Dickman, 2010; Madden, 2004; Redpath et al., 2013)....
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...Indeed, unmanaged or poorly managed conflict, including socalled human-wildlife conflict, represents an increasingly difficult obstacle to the effective management and conservation of many species of wildlife around the world (Madden, 2004; Michalski et al., 2006; Peterson et al., 2013; Redpath et al., 2013)....
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...Finally, the inherent focus of conservationists tends to steer dialogue toward the wildlife itself (or ecosystems) and away from the impact that conservation decisions and actions may have on a person’s psychology, culture, beliefs, values, or history (Clark, 2002; Dickman, 2010; Madden, 2004; Redpath et al., 2013)....
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References
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors conduct a meta-analytical study of the existing literature on collaborative governance with the goal of elaborating a contingency model of collaborative governance and identify critical variables that will influence whether or not collaborative governance will produce successful collaboration.
Abstract: Over the past few decades, a new form of governance has emerged to replace adversarial and managerial modes of policy making and implementation. Collaborative governance, as it has come to be known, brings public and private stakeholders together in collective forums with public agencies to engage in consensus-oriented decision making. In this article, we conduct a meta-analytical study of the existing literature on collaborative governance with the goal of elaborating a contingency model of collaborative governance. After reviewing 137 cases of collaborative governance across a range of policy sectors, we identify critical variables that will influence whether or not this mode of governance will produce successful collaboration. These variables include the prior history of conflict or cooperation, the incentives for stakeholders to participate, power and resources imbalances, leadership, and institutional design. We also identify a series of factors that are crucial within the collaborative process itself. These factors include face-to-face dialogue, trust building, and the development of commitment and shared understanding. We found that a virtuous cycle of collaboration tends to develop when collaborative forums focus on ‘‘small wins’’ that deepen trust, commitment, and shared understanding. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of our contingency model for practitioners and for future research on collaborative governance. Over the last two decades, a new strategy of governing called ‘‘collaborative governance’’ has developed. This mode of governance brings multiple stakeholders together in common forums with public agencies to engage in consensus-oriented decision making. In this article, we conduct a meta-analytical study of the existing literature on collaborative governance with the goal of elaborating a general model of collaborative governance. The ultimate goal is to develop a contingency approach to collaboration that can highlight conditions under which collaborative governance will be more or less effective as an
4,401 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the development of participatory approaches in different disciplinary and geographical contexts, and reviews typologies that can be used to categorise and select participatory methods.
3,421 citations
TL;DR: A format for web-based databases that could provide the required information in accessible form is suggested that is a major problem for conservationists and requires a rethinking of the manner in which conservation operates.
Abstract: Much of current conservation practice is based upon anecdote and myth rather than upon the systematic appraisal of the evidence, including experience of others who have tackled the same problem. We suggest that this is a major problem for conservationists and requires a rethinking of the manner in which conservation operates. There is an urgent need for mechanisms that review available information and make recommendations to practitioners. We suggest a format for web-based databases that could provide the required information in accessible form.
1,574 citations
19 Apr 2007
TL;DR: The Honest Broker as discussed by the authors is a book about the role of scientists in political debates and policy formation, particularly in terms of how they present their research and what considerations are important to consider when deciding, and the consequences of such choices for individual scientists and the broader scientific enterprise.
Abstract: Scientists have a choice concerning what role they should play in political debates and policy formation, particularly in terms of how they present their research. This book is about understanding this choice, what considerations are important to think about when deciding, and the consequences of such choices for the individual scientist and the broader scientific enterprise. Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options for individual scientists to consider in making their own judgments about how they would like to position themselves in relation to policy and politics. Using examples from a range of scientific controversies and thought-provoking analogies from other walks of life, The Honest Broker challenges us all - scientists, politicians and citizens - to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy.
1,569 citations