According to a new study published in the journal Ecosystem Services conservation strategies often have a narrow focus and tend to prioritise economic or ecological values of various species, while ignoring other types of benefits, such as those related to well-being or ethics.
Ecotourism vs. trophy hobby hunting
Using elephants as a case study, the experts found that the financial benefits arising from the role of elephants in ecotourism, trophy hobby hunting or labour are often at odds with the ecological, cultural and spiritual services provided by elephants. Failing to take into account the value systems of all stakeholders involved in conservation, including local communities, can lead to social inequality, conflict and unsustainable strategies.
«We chose elephants as a case study because their protection can be particularly difficult and contentious,» said co-author of the study Antoinette van de Water, an expert in human-elephant interaction at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. «We are not saying that economic contributions are not important, but many different values are at play, and all of them must be considered in conservation strategies if they are to succeed.»
A one-size-fits-all approach harms species conservation
According to van de Water and her colleagues, conservation decision-makers frequently tend to adopt a single worldview when considering the value of nature. «Whether economic, ecological or social, a blanket approach to values can undermine the success of a conservation strategy,» explained study co-author Lucy Bates, a zoologist at the University of Portsmouth in the United Kingdom.
«Take the ivory trade, for example. The international trade in ivory is illegal, but many countries in southern Africa want to resume trade, which is causing conflicts across the African continent. Focusing less on the potential economic value of ivory and turning to other ways in which elephants can support communities can bring about a decisive change.»
«On a smaller scale, this framework can also be applied when designating protected areas and the question of which land could be made available to elephants. By listening to the people who live in these areas, one gains a clear understanding of how decisions will also affect people's lives, and ways can be found to address all the problems.»
A rethink in conservation is needed
Rather than focusing solely on financial and economic benefits, conservationists should also consider the non-material benefits of nature, such as recreation, inspiration, mental health or social cohesion, together with broader moral values such as human rights, environmental justice, rights of nature or intergenerational legacy.
An approach that incorporates moral values in connection with the conservation of biodiversity to create a positive cycle between benefits for people and nature would help policymakers and managers better understand what elephants mean to people, why these animals matter in their own right, and what values and interests are truly at stake.
«What we really need is a rethink. Conservation policy is often based on price tags. Our pluralistic valuation system offers solutions that are not based on economic gains or political status for a few, but on the long-term common good and the goals and aspirations of societies,» concluded van de Water.
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