There are myriad definitions of the term “environmental conservation” and hundreds of ideologies and methods being utilised worldwide in an attempt to conserve habitats and biodiversity. At present, what is clear is that conservation efforts as a whole are failing. While large-scale financial investments in worldwide conservation efforts is increasing, positive results from these investments remains to be seen. Indeed, the species extinction crisis, destruction of habitat and climate change continue unabated and pose increasingly severe threats to the natural world.
Mainstream conservation institutions (large, international non-governmental organizations – NGOs) are increasingly modelling themselves and relying upon commercial businesses. Being part of the dominant economic establishment positions these NGOs as conflicted in their ability and desire to take effective action against the root cause of environmental degradation which unarguably stems from uncontrolled capitalist exploitation, corruption, broken nation states and a burgeoning world leadership crisis. These large NGOs cannot challenge the overarching systems of oppression because they have become a part of them. They are ignoring the bigger picture and the real cause of the problems that they claim to be concerned with tackling and merely offer superficial, insincere solutions. These big NGOs cause severe damage to our world because they control the vast majority of resources and funding to ostensibly support conservation efforts, but fail to use it where it is most needed and thus fail to create any meaningful change or positive results.
In order to justify their failure, they have developed discourses blaming local people for being either greedy destroyers of nature or ignorant savages who lack the intelligence or motivation to work to preserve their own environment. Nature is being ascribed economic value and local people are being offered financial “compensation” in order to ensure they do not interfere with the work of the powerful NGOs. Grassroots activism and new, radical approaches to conservation are demonised and accused of “getting in the way” of the “real conservationists” (the large NGOs) in order to distract the general public from seeing activists’ real potential as capable of creating a new reality. Funds are being blocked from reaching either community conservationists or activists, ensuring that the powerful retain control and those uniquely positioned to dismantle the ineffective and damaging status quo are prevented from accessing the resources and opportunities that are required to make real change.
This situation must change. Reclaim Conservation, through activist work with communities, whistle-blowers and law enforcement, through academia, mass and social medias, will prove and inform the public that:
Conservation is activism.
Conservation is against corruption.
Conservation is against all kinds of discrimination.
Conservation is against right wing, capitalist exploitation.
Conservation is compassion.