Conservation & Environmental Justice (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Conservation & Environmental Justice

What is environmental justice?

• Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment and involvement of all people, regardless of race, income, or geography, in environmental policies and practices

• It seeks to ensure that no group bears an unfair share of environmental harms or is excluded from the benefits of environmental protection

• In the context of conservation, environmental justice aims to protect both biodiversity and the rights of local and Indigenous communities

Conservation and biodiversity loss

• Conservation efforts are essential for reducing biodiversity loss

• Areas most affected by biodiversity loss are often in developing countries, many of which have significant Indigenous and low-income populations

  • These areas, such as tropical rainforests and savannahs, are rich in biodiversity but also face intense pressure from deforestation, mining, and agriculture

Links between environmental justice and conservation

Conflicts between conservation and Indigenous rights

• Conservation efforts need to balance protecting ecosystems with ensuring the rights and livelihoods of local and Indigenous communities are protected

• Many conservation programmes have historically focused on protecting land and biodiversity by creating protected areas like national parks

• However, this has sometimes led to forced relocations of local and Indigenous peoples, violating their rights

  • For example, the creation of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania led to the relocation of the Maasai people, who had traditionally lived there and relied on the land for grazing their cattle

  • This displacement has caused long-term challenges for the Maasai, including:

    • Loss of livelihood

    • Poverty

    • Cultural disruption and cultural disconnection from their land

• Environmental justice argues that Indigenous and local communities should be partners in conservation, not obstacles

  • Forced relocation undermines the traditional stewardship of land that Indigenous peoples have practiced for generations

  • In many cases, these communities were sustainably managing the land before being removed for conservation purposes

  • Indigenous peoples often have deep knowledge of their environments, which can be invaluable for sustainable conservation strategies

    • For example, in certain parts of the Amazon, some Indigenous groups work with conservation organisations to manage their lands sustainably, combining traditional practices with modern conservation techniques

Lack of legal support

• Many Indigenous communities lack legal recognition of their land rights

• This makes it easier for governments and corporations to seize land for conservation or development

  • For example, in Botswana, the San people were removed from their ancestral lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

  • This was despite living there for thousands of years

  • They were relocated without proper compensation or support

• Without legal rights, Indigenous and marginalised communities have little ability to defend their land when governments or organisations prioritise conservation projects over their livelihoods