Conservation and Development

Book excerpt: Conservation and development share an intertwined history dating back to at least the 1700s. But what are the prospects for reconciling the two, and how far have we come with this project? This book explores these questions through a detailed consideration of the past, present and future of the relationship between conservation and development. Bringing to bear conceptual resources from political ecology, social-ecological systems thinking and science and technology studies, Conservation and Development sets this relationship against the background of the political and economic processes implicated in environmental degradation and poverty alike. Whilst recognising that the need for reconciling conservation and development processes remains as compelling as ever, it demonstrates why trade-offs are more frequently encountered in practice than synergies. It also flags alternative visions for conservation and development obscured or ignored by current framings and priorities. Bringing together policy and theory, Conservation and Development is an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students and a useful reference for researchers in related fields. Each chapter contains a reading guide with discussion questions. The text is enlivened by a number of new case studies from around the world. A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the history, current state, and projections for future shifts in the relationship between conservation and development.