Papers by Georgina Cullman
Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better... more Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy-influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations ¶email nathan.bennett@ubc.ca
It has long been claimed that a better understanding of human or social dimensions of environment... more It has long been claimed that a better understanding of human or social dimensions of environmental issues will improve conservation. The social sciences are one important means through which researchers and practitioners can attain that better understanding. Yet, a lack of awareness of the scope and uncertainty about the purpose of the conservation social sciences impedes the conservation community's effective engagement with the human dimensions. This paper examines the scope and purpose of eighteen subfields of classic, interdisciplinary and applied conservation social sciences and articulates ten distinct contributions that the social sciences can make to understanding and improving conservation. In brief, the conservation social sciences can be valuable to conservation for descriptive, diagnostic, disruptive, reflexive, generative, innovative, or instrumental reasons. This review and supporting materials provides a succinct yet comprehensive reference for conservation scientists and practitioners. We contend that the social sciences can help facilitate conservation policies, actions and outcomes that are more legitimate, salient, robust and effective.
Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better... more Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers—ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity—to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy-influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations ¶email nathan.bennett@ubc.ca
Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better... more Despite broad recognition of the value of social sciences and increasingly vocal calls for better engagement with the human element of conservation, the conservation social sciences remain misunderstood and underutilized in practice. The conservation social sciences can provide unique and important contributions to society's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature and to improving conservation practice and outcomes. There are 4 barriers – ideological, institutional, knowledge, and capacity – to meaningful integration of the social sciences into conservation. We provide practical guidance on overcoming these barriers to mainstream the social sciences in conservation science, practice, and policy. Broadly, we recommend fostering knowledge on the scope and contributions of the social sciences to conservation, including social scientists from the inception of interdisciplinary research projects, incorporating social science research and insights during all stages of conservation planning and implementation, building social science capacity at all scales in conservation organizations and agencies, and promoting engagement with the social sciences in and through global conservation policy-influencing organizations. Conservation social scientists, too, need to be willing to engage with natural science knowledge and to communicate insights and recommendations clearly. We urge the conservation community to move beyond superficial engagement with the conservation social sciences. A more inclusive and integrative conservation science - one that includes the natural and social sciences - will enable more ecologically effective and socially just conservation. Better collaboration among social scientists, natural scientists, practitioners, and policy makers will facilitate a renewed and more robust conservation. Mainstreaming the conservation social sciences will facilitate the uptake of the full range of insights and contributions from these fields into conservation policy and practice.
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2009
In Madagascar, as elsewhere, decentralization and devolution of natural resource management to lo... more In Madagascar, as elsewhere, decentralization and devolution of natural resource management to local, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in- stitutions have been major approaches for the increased engage- ment of local people in conservation projects. Using virtualism, a set of theories linking abstract models to their implementation in policy, I explore the implementation of CBNRM in the pe- riphery of the newly established Makira Natural Park in north- eastern Madagascar. I show that the imposition of an ill-suited model of CBNRM led to community-based institutions becom- ing instruments of coercion rather than empowerment for com- munity members. Madagascar’s CBNRM legislation implied communal land tenure arrangements, the legitimacy and com- prehensibility of written contracts, and an overly onerous regu- latory environment prior to decentralization - none of which held true for Makira communities. In Makira, the virtualizing vision of CBNRM led to the further marginalization of already marginal people.
Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to ... more Each of the fields of conservation social science has made and can make a unique contribution to understanding the relationship between humans and nature and to improving conservation outcomes. Conservation scientists, practitioners and organizations recognize the importance of the conservation social sciences and are increasingly engaging in and funding conservation social science research. Yet conservation organizations and funders often lack a clear understanding of the breadth of the conservation social sciences, the types of questions that each field of conservation social science poses, the methods used by disciplinary specialists, or the potential contribution of each field of conservation social science to improving conservation practice and outcomes. Limited social science capacity and knowledge within conservation organizations may also mean that conservation practitioners and organizations looking to fund conservation social science research do not know where or how to begin defining a social science research agenda.
This report presents a series of papers that were given as part of a workshop titled “The conservation social sciences: Clarifying ‘what?’, “how?’ and ‘why?’ to inform conservation practice” that occurred at the North American Congress for Conservation Biology in Missoula, Montana in July 2014. The workshop brought together specialists from the breadth of the conservation social sciences to define the contributions of their disciplines and fields to conservation through exploring the ‘what?’, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ of each area of expertise. The resultant report aims to stimulate dialogue among conservation organizations, foundations, agencies, practitioners and researchers about the role of the conservation social sciences. It is intended to build capacity, promote knowledge and foster engagement with conservation social sciences in order to improve conservation practice and outcomes.
The first chapter of the report introduces the conservation social sciences. The body of the report provides succinct synopses of the different conservation social sciences by specialists in Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science and Governance, Human Dimensions, Political Ecology, Ethics, Education and Communication, Conservation and Development, and Science and Technology Studies. The concluding chapter a) provides a broad overview of the topics explored, questions asked, methods used and contributions made by each field of conservation social science and b) presents a process by which conservation organizations or funders can define and prioritize a conservation social science research agenda. We propose five steps to guide organizations wishing to better employ the conservation social sciences: 1) Recognize and overcome organizational barriers to incorporating conservation social sciences and build support for and understanding of the conservation social sciences; 2) Identify the conservation problem(s) that the organization aims to address and highlight their social dimensions; 3) Partner with social scientist(s) to frame key topics, questions and approach; 4) Brainstorm key topics for investigation or research questions and prioritize them to establish a conservation social science agenda; and 5) Partner with, contract or hire conservation social scientist(s) to carry out the work.
Table of Contents
Introducing the Conservation Social Sciences – Nathan J. Bennett & Robin Roth
A Primer on Environmental Anthropology for Conservation Biologists – Georgina Cullman
Conservation and Sociology – Richard C. Stedman
Ecological Economics and Its Potential Role in Conservation - Kai M. A. Chan, Michael Barkusky & Sarah C. Klain
A (Social) Psychology Approach in Conservation - Tara L. Teel, Alia M. Dietsch & Michael J. Manfredo
Political Science, Environmental Governance and Conservation - Graham Epstein
Conservation Ethics as a Conservation Social Science – Michael Paul Nelson & John A. Vucetich
Beyond ‘the Gap’: Connecting Conservation Science with Policy and Practice - Carina Wyborn
Informing Conservation Practice Through Environmental Education: The “What”, “How” and “Why” - Rebecca E. W. Thomas
Win-Win or Trade-Offs?: The Study of Conservation and Development at Local, National and Global Scales - Nathan J. Bennett
Conservation of What for Whom?: A Political Ecological Approach to Conservation - Robin Roth
Human Dimensions and the Evolution of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Conservation Social Science - Douglas A. Clark
The Conservation Social Sciences: An Overview and A Process for Setting a Research Agenda – Nathan J. Bennett, Robin Roth, Sarah Klain, Kai M. A. Chan, Douglas A. Clark, Georgina Cullman, Graham Epstein, Michael Paul Nelson, Richard Stedman, Tara L. Teel, Rebecca E. W. Thomas & Carina Wyborn
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Papers by Georgina Cullman
This report presents a series of papers that were given as part of a workshop titled “The conservation social sciences: Clarifying ‘what?’, “how?’ and ‘why?’ to inform conservation practice” that occurred at the North American Congress for Conservation Biology in Missoula, Montana in July 2014. The workshop brought together specialists from the breadth of the conservation social sciences to define the contributions of their disciplines and fields to conservation through exploring the ‘what?’, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ of each area of expertise. The resultant report aims to stimulate dialogue among conservation organizations, foundations, agencies, practitioners and researchers about the role of the conservation social sciences. It is intended to build capacity, promote knowledge and foster engagement with conservation social sciences in order to improve conservation practice and outcomes.
The first chapter of the report introduces the conservation social sciences. The body of the report provides succinct synopses of the different conservation social sciences by specialists in Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science and Governance, Human Dimensions, Political Ecology, Ethics, Education and Communication, Conservation and Development, and Science and Technology Studies. The concluding chapter a) provides a broad overview of the topics explored, questions asked, methods used and contributions made by each field of conservation social science and b) presents a process by which conservation organizations or funders can define and prioritize a conservation social science research agenda. We propose five steps to guide organizations wishing to better employ the conservation social sciences: 1) Recognize and overcome organizational barriers to incorporating conservation social sciences and build support for and understanding of the conservation social sciences; 2) Identify the conservation problem(s) that the organization aims to address and highlight their social dimensions; 3) Partner with social scientist(s) to frame key topics, questions and approach; 4) Brainstorm key topics for investigation or research questions and prioritize them to establish a conservation social science agenda; and 5) Partner with, contract or hire conservation social scientist(s) to carry out the work.
Table of Contents
Introducing the Conservation Social Sciences – Nathan J. Bennett & Robin Roth
A Primer on Environmental Anthropology for Conservation Biologists – Georgina Cullman
Conservation and Sociology – Richard C. Stedman
Ecological Economics and Its Potential Role in Conservation - Kai M. A. Chan, Michael Barkusky & Sarah C. Klain
A (Social) Psychology Approach in Conservation - Tara L. Teel, Alia M. Dietsch & Michael J. Manfredo
Political Science, Environmental Governance and Conservation - Graham Epstein
Conservation Ethics as a Conservation Social Science – Michael Paul Nelson & John A. Vucetich
Beyond ‘the Gap’: Connecting Conservation Science with Policy and Practice - Carina Wyborn
Informing Conservation Practice Through Environmental Education: The “What”, “How” and “Why” - Rebecca E. W. Thomas
Win-Win or Trade-Offs?: The Study of Conservation and Development at Local, National and Global Scales - Nathan J. Bennett
Conservation of What for Whom?: A Political Ecological Approach to Conservation - Robin Roth
Human Dimensions and the Evolution of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Conservation Social Science - Douglas A. Clark
The Conservation Social Sciences: An Overview and A Process for Setting a Research Agenda – Nathan J. Bennett, Robin Roth, Sarah Klain, Kai M. A. Chan, Douglas A. Clark, Georgina Cullman, Graham Epstein, Michael Paul Nelson, Richard Stedman, Tara L. Teel, Rebecca E. W. Thomas & Carina Wyborn
This report presents a series of papers that were given as part of a workshop titled “The conservation social sciences: Clarifying ‘what?’, “how?’ and ‘why?’ to inform conservation practice” that occurred at the North American Congress for Conservation Biology in Missoula, Montana in July 2014. The workshop brought together specialists from the breadth of the conservation social sciences to define the contributions of their disciplines and fields to conservation through exploring the ‘what?’, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ of each area of expertise. The resultant report aims to stimulate dialogue among conservation organizations, foundations, agencies, practitioners and researchers about the role of the conservation social sciences. It is intended to build capacity, promote knowledge and foster engagement with conservation social sciences in order to improve conservation practice and outcomes.
The first chapter of the report introduces the conservation social sciences. The body of the report provides succinct synopses of the different conservation social sciences by specialists in Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Political Science and Governance, Human Dimensions, Political Ecology, Ethics, Education and Communication, Conservation and Development, and Science and Technology Studies. The concluding chapter a) provides a broad overview of the topics explored, questions asked, methods used and contributions made by each field of conservation social science and b) presents a process by which conservation organizations or funders can define and prioritize a conservation social science research agenda. We propose five steps to guide organizations wishing to better employ the conservation social sciences: 1) Recognize and overcome organizational barriers to incorporating conservation social sciences and build support for and understanding of the conservation social sciences; 2) Identify the conservation problem(s) that the organization aims to address and highlight their social dimensions; 3) Partner with social scientist(s) to frame key topics, questions and approach; 4) Brainstorm key topics for investigation or research questions and prioritize them to establish a conservation social science agenda; and 5) Partner with, contract or hire conservation social scientist(s) to carry out the work.
Table of Contents
Introducing the Conservation Social Sciences – Nathan J. Bennett & Robin Roth
A Primer on Environmental Anthropology for Conservation Biologists – Georgina Cullman
Conservation and Sociology – Richard C. Stedman
Ecological Economics and Its Potential Role in Conservation - Kai M. A. Chan, Michael Barkusky & Sarah C. Klain
A (Social) Psychology Approach in Conservation - Tara L. Teel, Alia M. Dietsch & Michael J. Manfredo
Political Science, Environmental Governance and Conservation - Graham Epstein
Conservation Ethics as a Conservation Social Science – Michael Paul Nelson & John A. Vucetich
Beyond ‘the Gap’: Connecting Conservation Science with Policy and Practice - Carina Wyborn
Informing Conservation Practice Through Environmental Education: The “What”, “How” and “Why” - Rebecca E. W. Thomas
Win-Win or Trade-Offs?: The Study of Conservation and Development at Local, National and Global Scales - Nathan J. Bennett
Conservation of What for Whom?: A Political Ecological Approach to Conservation - Robin Roth
Human Dimensions and the Evolution of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Conservation Social Science - Douglas A. Clark
The Conservation Social Sciences: An Overview and A Process for Setting a Research Agenda – Nathan J. Bennett, Robin Roth, Sarah Klain, Kai M. A. Chan, Douglas A. Clark, Georgina Cullman, Graham Epstein, Michael Paul Nelson, Richard Stedman, Tara L. Teel, Rebecca E. W. Thomas & Carina Wyborn