Mapping the patriarchy in conservation

Abstract It is essential to ensure the effectiveness of current conservation efforts to meet the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and climate change. In this article, we discuss one aspect that undermines conservation’s effectiveness while at the same time being under...

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Main Authors: Leonie Bossert, Tom Crompton, Anwesha Dutta, Joni Seager
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:npj Biodiversity
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00072-4
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author Leonie Bossert
Tom Crompton
Anwesha Dutta
Joni Seager
author_facet Leonie Bossert
Tom Crompton
Anwesha Dutta
Joni Seager
author_sort Leonie Bossert
collection DOAJ
description Abstract It is essential to ensure the effectiveness of current conservation efforts to meet the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and climate change. In this article, we discuss one aspect that undermines conservation’s effectiveness while at the same time being underexplored in the academic and political discourse on conservation: patriarchal norms and structures. We argue that these norms and structures, which promote male supremacy and inequality, are central to driving environmental destruction. Many conservation programs unintentionally reinforce patriarchal thinking, thereby undermining their effectiveness. We provide examples of how patriarchy influences conservation, such as the precarious position of women (Working Conditions for Women in Conservation), the treatment of animals (Violence against animals), the suppression of particular forms of knowledge (Science and knowledge production), militarization trends in conservation (Securitization and militarization of conservation enforcement), and the financialization of nature (The monetary valuation of nature). We conclude that patriarchal norms and structures within conservation must be questioned and dismantled to make conservation more effective and just.
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spelling doaj-art-9fb05baff1f74cec87fbbc0a134379882025-08-20T02:35:51ZengNature Portfolionpj Biodiversity2731-42432024-12-01311510.1038/s44185-024-00072-4Mapping the patriarchy in conservationLeonie Bossert0Tom Crompton1Anwesha Dutta2Joni Seager3University of ViennaCommon Cause FoundationChr. Michelsen InstituteBentley UniversityAbstract It is essential to ensure the effectiveness of current conservation efforts to meet the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and climate change. In this article, we discuss one aspect that undermines conservation’s effectiveness while at the same time being underexplored in the academic and political discourse on conservation: patriarchal norms and structures. We argue that these norms and structures, which promote male supremacy and inequality, are central to driving environmental destruction. Many conservation programs unintentionally reinforce patriarchal thinking, thereby undermining their effectiveness. We provide examples of how patriarchy influences conservation, such as the precarious position of women (Working Conditions for Women in Conservation), the treatment of animals (Violence against animals), the suppression of particular forms of knowledge (Science and knowledge production), militarization trends in conservation (Securitization and militarization of conservation enforcement), and the financialization of nature (The monetary valuation of nature). We conclude that patriarchal norms and structures within conservation must be questioned and dismantled to make conservation more effective and just.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00072-4
spellingShingle Leonie Bossert
Tom Crompton
Anwesha Dutta
Joni Seager
Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
npj Biodiversity
title Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
title_full Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
title_fullStr Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
title_short Mapping the patriarchy in conservation
title_sort mapping the patriarchy in conservation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00072-4
work_keys_str_mv AT leoniebossert mappingthepatriarchyinconservation
AT tomcrompton mappingthepatriarchyinconservation
AT anweshadutta mappingthepatriarchyinconservation
AT joniseager mappingthepatriarchyinconservation