Navigating diverse human-nature worldviews for more inclusive conservation

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Environmental Policy
• Human Ecology

Background:

• Human-nature worldviews profoundly influence societal interactions with the environment.
• Global conservation frameworks, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, increasingly emphasize inclusivity of diverse perspectives.
• Existing research highlights the need to better integrate varied worldviews into conservation science, policy, and practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize four primary human-nature worldviews: anthropocentrism, biocentrism, ecocentrism, and pluricentrism.
• To provide a heuristic typology to aid conservation scholars and practitioners in navigating participatory decision-making.
• To address power dynamics affecting the expression of different worldviews in conservation.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review of academic publications, Indigenous and local knowledge sources, and policy documents, building on the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Values Assessment.
• Development of a typology of human-nature worldviews.
• Analysis of two case studies: protected area prioritization in India and payments for ecosystem services in Colombia.

Main Results:

• Identified and defined four distinct human-nature worldviews: anthropocentrism, biocentrism, ecocentrism, and pluricentrism.
• Demonstrated that inclusive conservation requires recognizing, understanding, and articulating diverse worldviews within institutions.
• Showcased how engaging with varied worldviews is essential for both new policy development and adaptation of existing conservation instruments.

Conclusions:

• A clear typology of human-nature worldviews can enhance conceptual clarity and aid in managing participatory conservation processes.
• Effective inclusive conservation hinges on the capacity to acknowledge and integrate diverse worldviews into institutional frameworks.
• Strategies for engaging with diverse worldviews are vital for adapting and developing conservation policies and instruments globally.