Participatory Biodiversity Conservation: Concepts, Experiences, and Perspectives

This book explores the social dimensions of conservation, highlighting the importance of indigenous peoples and local communities' participation in conservation initiatives. It covers a wide range of environments and issues, including the expansion of culturally constructed niches, protected areas, food security, community-based management, participatory agroforestry, productive restoration, and biocultural conservation. It also examines the limitations and shortcomings of participatory practices in protected areas, the relationship between the global crisis of democracy and the decline of biocultural diversity, and presents current discussions on policy frameworks and governance systems for effective participatory biodiversity conservation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 237 pages
Publication date: 14 May 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Addressing biodiversity loss and other environmental challenges requires a deeper understanding of the social dimensions of conservation. However, the active participation of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in conservation initiatives remains a complex and contentious issue. This book aims to shed light on alternative perspectives related to biodiversity conservation, beyond the traditional "fortress conservation" model, and emphasize the importance of popular participation, one of the pillars of democracy. It encompasses a wide range of environments and issues of particular significance to the topic, including the expansion of culturally constructed niches, protected areas, and food security, community-based management, participatory agroforestry, productive restoration, and biocultural conservation. The contents also delve into the limitations and shortcomings of participatory practices in protected areas, the relationship between the global crisis of democracy and the decline of biocultural diversity, and present ongoing discussions on policy frameworks and governance systems for effective participatory biodiversity conservation.

In summary, this book offers a comprehensive and realistic perspective on the social dimensions of conservation, drawing upon a series of interconnected themes in participatory biodiversity conservation. The chapters highlight the connections between biocultural conservation and the current political and economic environment, and the book concludes with a debate on reconciling human welfare, environmental justice, and biodiversity conservation.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030416881
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020