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Published on: June 7, 2024
Using the capabilities approach to achieve people-centered conservation
Arthur Rodrigues1, Felipe P L Melo2, Lucas Alencar3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
Summary
People-centered conservation can better support forest-proximate people (FPP) by focusing on qualitative well-being like freedom and dignity. The capabilities approach (CA) provides a framework for rights-based conservation that enhances FPP flourishing and agency.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Science
- Social Ecology
- Human Geography
Background:
- Top-down conservation often uses economistic well-being metrics, limiting effectiveness for forest-proximate people (FPP).
- Existing people-centered conservation projects struggle with quantifying social dimensions of well-being in design and evaluation.
- A qualitative focus on freedom and dignity is crucial for rights-based, people-centered conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of the capabilities approach (CA) for assessing and enhancing the well-being of FPP.
- To develop a framework for people-centered conservation grounded in the CA.
- To analyze the influence of conservation practices on FPP well-being in the Brazilian Caatinga.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of CA applications concerning FPP well-being across 16 countries.
- Development of a novel framework integrating CA principles into conservation.
- Case study application of the framework in the Brazilian Caatinga dry forest.
Main Results:
- Equitable access to forest resources is vital for FPP flourishing.
- Effective capability creation for FPP relies on robust, local social institutions.
- FPP agency is often intrinsically linked to collective structures and social norms.
- Conservation practices show mixed impacts on FPP well-being and rights.
Conclusions:
- The CA offers a valuable lens for rights-based conservation, prioritizing FPP well-being and agency.
- A qualitative, capabilities-focused approach can improve conservation outcomes for both biodiversity and local communities.
- The developed framework can guide more equitable and effective people-centered conservation initiatives.
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