Doing Conservation Differently: Toward a Diverse Conservations Inventory

Many scientists and environmental activists argue that the scale scope of contemporary conservation must increase dramatically if we are to halt biodiversity declines sustain a healthy planet. Yet as currently practiced has faced significant critique for its reliance on reductionist science, advocacy “fortress”-like preservation measures disproportionately harm marginalized communities, integration into global capitalist system is root cause degradation. The contributions this special issue, developed from panel at Anthropology Conservation conference co-hosted by Royal Anthropological Institute Society Ethnobiology in October 2021, collectively what we, borrowing Gibson-Graham’s diverse economies framework, call “doing differently.” By bringing marginalized, hidden, alternative activities light, researchers can contribute, spirit work, making these conservations more real credible objects policy activism. This issue contributes inventorying already exist, which opens new spaces ethical intervention collective action.