At OneNature, we are continually striving to learn more about the intersection of human and non-human well-being in the conservation landscape. We believe that the well-being of local communities is tied to those of the wildlife around them. We also believe that the protection of wildlife populations can be greatly impacted by the local community’s cultural and spiritual ties – with positive connections resulting in a better outcome for both.
As we continue to expand this work and cultivate change in the conservation field, we are seeking to collaborate with conservation and community partners to write a collaborative academic paper and summary report. We are curating six to ten case studies in which a cultural or spiritual connection to wildlife in and around the community has positively impacted local conservation outcomes. Volunteer collaborators are asked to provide a brief description (minimum 1-2 pages) of a case study by December 10th to be used in a formal journal analysis. The case description should include:
- The author’s name and role in the project
- A description of the project including its location, conservation partners, goals, and activities
- A brief description of the community and ecosystem involved, complete with a short history of the community’s relationships with nature/wildlife and existing conflicts
- The value of and connection to wildlife in the community, including economic, spiritual, and cultural importance, and resulting implications
- A description of how non-material values are (or could be) emphasized by the conservation project
- Any lessons learned by the author about wildlife conservation and community
Collaborators will act as a representative of their project and/or organization in individual and group discussions of the cases early next year to develop a series of recommendations for improving the assessment cultural value of wildlife in various communities and bolstering support for more community-centered, value-based conservation work by leading conservation agencies, organizations, funders, and policy-makers.
Upon completion of the study in January, OneNature will submit an academic paper with collaborators as co-authors as well as our academic research partners at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. OneNature will also spearhead a collaborative report with summary findings and recommendations and convene a roundtable discussion with all authors along with a selection of decision-makers to launch the report, discuss the implementation of the report’s recommendations, and propose opportunities to continue this critical work.
If you are interested in participating in this research study, please confirm your interest with OneNature by emailing hpaavola@onenatureinstitute.org with a brief description of your project case study, your organization and/or position related to the project, along with any questions they may have regarding the study as a whole. Please confirm your interest by November 17.
Case study write-ups must be submitted no later than December 10th in order to be included in the report. The academic paper will be finalized by late January 2022. The report release and roundtable is anticipated in February 2022.
We hope you will share your intersectional conservation stories with us and look forward to exploring them with you in an effort to make conservation work with all of us, for all of us!