Search

Our own experiences, echoed in discussions with peers, suggest key concepts and ethical considerations can be absent from conservation training (e.g. conservation's history and evolution, relational values, positionality, intersectionality, power dynamics, gatekeeping), leaving us under-prepared to tackle the extremely complex conservation challenges the world faces (Bennett et al., 2017; Catalano et al., 2019; Raatikainen et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2020). A further consequence of the colonial influence on conservation is that non-white conservation figures have largely been written out of conservation's history, while white Western conservationists have become celebrated household names (Das & Lowe, 2018; Garland, 2008; Sebunya, 2017). Land, 9, 11 - 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9030065 60 Downey, H., Amano, T., Cadotte, M., Cook, C. N., Cooke, S. J., Haddaway, N. R., Jones, J. P. G., Littlewood, N., Walsh, J. C., Akasaka, M., Alves, J. A., Antwis, R. E., Arellano, E. C., Axmacher, J., Barclay, H., Batty, L., Benítez-López, A., Bennett, J. R., Berg, M. J., ... Usieta, H. O. (2021). Keywords: fairer conservation; inclusivity; equality; early-career researchers; research ethics; reflexivity EN fairer conservation inclusivity equality early-career researchers research ethics reflexivity 612 626 15 06/10/22 20220601 NES 220601 Positionality Statement We are eight women of European, Brazilian and Chinese ethnicity and, at the time of writing, are in our final doctoral year working at UK conservation and academic institutions. This not only fails to represent many who have been a part of conservation's history, but can also alienate audiences, discourage diverse participation in conservation and hinder positive conservation outcomes (Das & Lowe, 2018; Jacobs, 2020; Margules et al., 2020). [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Scientists have warned decision‐makers about the severe consequences of the global environmental crisis since the 1970s. Yet ecological degradation continues and little has been done to address climate change. We investigated early‐career conservation researchers' (ECR) perspectives on, and prioritization of, actions furthering sustainability. We conducted a survey (n = 67) and an interactive workshop (n = 35) for ECR attendees of the 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology (2018). Building on these data and discussions, we identified ongoing and forthcoming advances in conservation science. These include increased transdisciplinarity, science communication, advocacy in conservation, and adoption of a transformation‐oriented social–ecological systems approach to research. The respondents and participants had diverse perspectives on how to achieve sustainability. Reformist actions were emphasized as paving the way for more radical changes in the economic system and societal values linked to the environment and inequality. Our findings suggest that achieving sustainability requires a strategy that (1) incorporates the multiplicity of people's views, (2) places a greater value on nature, and (3) encourages systemic transformation across political, social, educational, and economic realms on multiple levels. We introduce a framework for ECRs to inspire their research and practice within conservation science to achieve real change in protecting biological diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Wetland Extent Trends (WET) index updated with 1000 new wetland records. • Records show natural wetlands declined by 35% on average from 1970 to 2015. • Regional index for Latin America and the Caribbean shows the greatest loss. • Average change in extent of human-made wetlands of +233%. • Data show we are not on track to meet global targets to halt wetland habitat loss. Abstract Indicators of status and trends in wetland extent are essential for monitoring progress towards the environmental targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Here, we test the value of the Wetland Extent Trends (WET) index as an updatable indicator of trends in wetland area and its application to global and regional scale assessments and national reporting. We expand the indicator to include a regional trend for Latin America and the Caribbean and a global human-made WET index. Based on a sample of over 2000 wetland records, natural wetland extent declined on average by 35% globally, at an increasing rate from 1970 to 2015. Human-made wetlands, however, increased by 233% from 1970 to 2014. The continuing decline in natural wetland extent suggests that global targets will not be achieved without significant further efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]