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- How morality threat promotes reconciliation in separatist conflict: A Half the earth for people (or more)?
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Half the earth for people (or more)? Addressing ethical questions in conservation
Preserving global biodiversity depends upon designating many more large terrestrial and marine areas as strictly
protected areas. Yet recent calls for addressing biodiversity loss by setting aside more protected areas have been
metwith hostility fromsomesocial scientists and even someconservation biologists. The main objections against
the so-called 'nature needs half' movement include the following. First, setting aside protected areas implies that
some vulnerable human...
Show morePreserving global biodiversity depends upon designating many more large terrestrial and marine areas as strictly
protected areas. Yet recent calls for addressing biodiversity loss by setting aside more protected areas have been
metwith hostility fromsomesocial scientists and even someconservation biologists. The main objections against
the so-called 'nature needs half' movement include the following. First, setting aside protected areas implies that
some vulnerable human communities will be displaced to make space for wildlife. Second, separating humans
from their environment ignores the fact that humans have always been part of the environments around
them, and creates a false dichotomy between nature and culture. Third, conservationists are said to put the
blame for biodiversity loss on all humanity, rather than on those who are doing most of the damage. Fourth,
many social justice proponents argue that human population growth is not related to biodiversity loss or other
sustainability challenges. This article critically addresses these four objections, exposing their robust anthropocentric
bias. Protected area critics reliably demand fairness for human beings at the expense of nonhuman beings,
who they treat asmorally inconsequential. But justice is not only about just us. Conservation properly understood
implies a fair division of Earth's resources between human and nonhuman beings. Justice demands setting aside
at least half Earth's lands and seas for nature, free from intensive economic activities.
Show less- All authors
- Kopnina, H.N.
- Date
- 2016-09-22
- Journal
- Biological Conservation
- Volume
- 203
- Pages
- 176–185