CHAPTER 2
Social values and conservation
biogeography
Richard J. Ladle
1,2
, Paul Jepson
1 and Lindsey Gillson
3
1 School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vi ç osa, Brazil
3 Plant Conservation Unit, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2.1 MANY VALUES, MANY GOALS
The problems involved in saving species from extinction
and maintaining biodiversity are typically presented to
the public in technical or scientifi c terms, often alongside proposed technical scientifi c solutions, such as
captive breeding and re - release or the creation of a new
protected area. However, while conservation clearly
draws upon science and technology to a large degree,
the desire to conserve nature and the behaviours
associated with this desire are expressions of underlying human values. Values are here taken to mean
beliefs and ideas that inform assessments of worth and
which are, by defi nition, socially constructed.
The practice of conservation of the natural world in
this context is clearly a social phenomenon, and one
that often becomes strongly political when conservation ideals confl ict with other societal aspirations such
as poverty alleviation or economic development. In the
broadest sense, conservation is about asserting (or
reasserting) certain values in society concerning the
human/nature relationship (Jepson & Canney, 2001 ).
Common conservation practices such as the establishment and management of protected areas, ecosystem
restoration, reintroduction of large predators or the
eradication of invasive species are simply the outward
expression of these values.
It has been argued that all humans have an innate
emotional affi liation to other forms of life and are
therefore predisposed to value life and living systems
(Wilson, 1984 ). In the broadest possible sense this may
be true, but it is also clear that the specifi c characteristics of the natural world that are valued by people,
cultures and organizations can also vary considerably.
Furthermore, these values can clash dramatically,
especially where there are confl icts between local
people and an animal that is immensely valued by the
global conservation movement. Good examples include
the problems caused by elephants in Asia and Africa,
the numerous confl icts around the world caused by
depredation of cattle by large felids and canids, and the
social barriers to reintroducing large predators such as
bears and wolves into human - dominated landscapes
in Europe and North America.
Effective conservation requires the support of key
stakeholders, scientifi c evidence to support a particular
conservation strategy and, equally importantly, awareness on the part of the conservation organization of
differing social values. Put another way, the world can
be seen as a geographic patchwork of different values
that refl ect cultural/societal differences, the varying
frames of reference of different conservation organizations, and governmental concerns and imperatives.
Moreover, contrasts in values and strategies also
typically exist not just between different regions but
within communities, organizations and government
departments for any given area. These layers of values
and the relative power of different conservation
Conservation Biogeography
Edited by Richard J. Ladle and Robert J. Whittaker
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-444-33503-3
Social values and conservation
biogeography
Richard J. Ladle
1,2
, Paul Jepson
1 and Lindsey Gillson
3
1 School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
2 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vi ç osa, Brazil
3 Plant Conservation Unit, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2.1 MANY VALUES, MANY GOALS
The problems involved in saving species from extinction
and maintaining biodiversity are typically presented to
the public in technical or scientifi c terms, often alongside proposed technical scientifi c solutions, such as
captive breeding and re - release or the creation of a new
protected area. However, while conservation clearly
draws upon science and technology to a large degree,
the desire to conserve nature and the behaviours
associated with this desire are expressions of underlying human values. Values are here taken to mean
beliefs and ideas that inform assessments of worth and
which are, by defi nition, socially constructed.
The practice of conservation of the natural world in
this context is clearly a social phenomenon, and one
that often becomes strongly political when conservation ideals confl ict with other societal aspirations such
as poverty alleviation or economic development. In the
broadest sense, conservation is about asserting (or
reasserting) certain values in society concerning the
human/nature relationship (Jepson & Canney, 2001 ).
Common conservation practices such as the establishment and management of protected areas, ecosystem
restoration, reintroduction of large predators or the
eradication of invasive species are simply the outward
expression of these values.
It has been argued that all humans have an innate
emotional affi liation to other forms of life and are
therefore predisposed to value life and living systems
(Wilson, 1984 ). In the broadest possible sense this may
be true, but it is also clear that the specifi c characteristics of the natural world that are valued by people,
cultures and organizations can also vary considerably.
Furthermore, these values can clash dramatically,
especially where there are confl icts between local
people and an animal that is immensely valued by the
global conservation movement. Good examples include
the problems caused by elephants in Asia and Africa,
the numerous confl icts around the world caused by
depredation of cattle by large felids and canids, and the
social barriers to reintroducing large predators such as
bears and wolves into human - dominated landscapes
in Europe and North America.
Effective conservation requires the support of key
stakeholders, scientifi c evidence to support a particular
conservation strategy and, equally importantly, awareness on the part of the conservation organization of
differing social values. Put another way, the world can
be seen as a geographic patchwork of different values
that refl ect cultural/societal differences, the varying
frames of reference of different conservation organizations, and governmental concerns and imperatives.
Moreover, contrasts in values and strategies also
typically exist not just between different regions but
within communities, organizations and government
departments for any given area. These layers of values
and the relative power of different conservation
Conservation Biogeography
Edited by Richard J. Ladle and Robert J. Whittaker
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-444-33503-3