Redefining environment for equity and inclusion in social-environmental research

Background/Question/Methods

Efforts to recruit, retain, and include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in environmental fields often falls short, in part, due to limited conceptualizations of conservation and environment. At the core of this is the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, an important approach to conservation and wildlife management that has been globally influential. This model, however, is based upon a specific subset of Western and Eurocentric worldviews and constructions of wilderness and nature. This model creates a narrow view of human-environment relationships and erases cultures and communities that explicitly view themselves as part of nature. We review the tenets of the NAMWC, highlighting their limitations and exclusion of other models and relationships with nature. To support long-term environmental engagement and culturally responsive research, 21st century environmentalists should shift our thinking around conservation to center counter narratives of BIPOC communities, scientists and professionals. We argue that relying solely on the historically dominant language and ideologies at the core of the NAMWC perpetuates disparities in environmental engagement. We further highlight how shifts in understanding conservation and relationships to nature enables us to re-frame our work to support equitable, inclusive, and just conservation science and practice.

Results/Conclusions

Our review illustrates how the tenets of the NAMWC are problematic to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in conservation. The NAMWC has great value but needs to be critically examined and updated to reflect inclusion and strengthen its relevance and value for the future. We suggest reframing conservation to 1) center BIPoC narratives, histories, and experiences; 2) create inclusive relationships with nature; and 3) embrace other ways of knowing. Employing and centering the counter themes suggested promotes the development of a profession and community that is more inclusive and therefore more agile and able to meet the ever changing demands of the conservation of species and habitats.