Beyond the Square Wheel: Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Biodiversity Conservation as Social and Political Process

TLDR

The article critiques recent international biodiversity conservation writings, noting calls for stricter protected area enforcement amid perceived failures of integrated conservation and development projects. The authors argue that the renewed emphasis on authoritarian protection practices neglects essential social and political dimensions such as moral clarity, legitimacy, governance, accountability, learning, and external influences. They propose recommendations to highlight existing work and foster dialogue on how biodiversity protection interventions are implemented in developing countries. Keywords include accountability, biodiversity protection, community‑based conservation, conservation and development, governance, learning, legitimacy, politics, and protected area management.

Abstract

Abstract In this article we build on an accompanying critique of recent writings in international biodiversity conservation (this issue). Many scholars and observers are calling for stricter enforcement of protected area boundaries given the perceived failure of integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) and other people-oriented approaches to safeguard biodiversity. Pointing to many ongoing, field-based efforts, we argue that this resurgent focus on authoritarian protection practices largely overlooks key aspects of social and political process including clarification of moral standpoint, legitimacy, governance, accountability, learning, and nonlocal forces. Following a discussion of these six points, we offer a series of recommendations aimed at highlighting existing work and encouraging dialogue and constructive debate on the ways in which biodiversity protection interventions are carried out in developing countries. Keywords: Accountability Biodiversity Protection Community-BASED Conservation Conservation And Development Governance Learning Legitimacy Politics Protected Area Management