History, cculture aand cconservation
HHistorically, the nexus between the con-
cepts of “conservation” and “culture” has
been a complex and problematic one, in
both theory and practice. Conservationists
have often balked at the idea of ecosystems
as “humans-in” systems, that is, systems
that have been shaped over time not just
by “natural” evolutionary processes, but
also by humans’ cultural interactions with
their surrounds.^1 That perspective intro-
duces inherent, multi-faceted complexities
that conservationists have tended to be
reluctant to engage with. It has been com-
mon for conservationists to seek to define
and analyze ecosystems and ecosystem
processes independent of human presence,
or to seek to extrapolate from present con-
ditions of ecosystems to conditions prior to
human presence and significant interaction
with the environment (what could be
defined as a “humans-out” approach). Such
idealised conditions have been used as
benchmarks for the development of conser-
vation visions and for measuring success in
reaching conservation targets. In terms of
humans’ relationships with nature, conser-
vationists have frequently preferred to point
at the negative side of the picture— that is,
human-made environmental degradation,
and the perceived failure of “sustainable
development” schemes; and these views
have also affected thinking in relation to
parks and protected areas.^2
Conversely, anthropologists and social-sci-
ence-oriented researchers
have stressed precisely the
cultural nature of the inter-
actions between humans
and the environment, the
vast diversity of these inter-
actions, and the ways in
which they are reflected in
and supported by local lan-
guages, traditional knowl-
edge, and cultural and spiri-
tual values.^3 Research in
this domain has explored
numerous instances in
which these interactions,
maintained over long peri-
ods of time, have not been
destructive— on the contrary, they
appeared to sustain biological diversity,
while modifying the environment in often
subtle ways not unlike “natural” processes.^4
It has examined the role of humans as bio-
diversity-enhancing “agents of creative eco-
logical disturbance”^5 and highlighted the
mutual links between the vitality, productivi-
ty and resilience of ecosystems and those of
human communities.^6 Critiques of the
“humans-out” approach to conservation
have been common in this body of litera-
ture.^7
Culture and conservation: ongoing
debates, unmet challenges
Except for a few inherently integrative fields
Conservation aand tthe ““two ccultures”— bbridging tthe ggap
Luisa MMaffi
Abstract: This paper reviews some of the controversial history of and current debates on the relationship
between conservation and culture. It points to the persisting gap between the natural and social sciences
in this domain and to the challenges that are left unmet by this gap. The paper offers some reflections
about how to overcome the gap, by proposing a more integrative notion of “conservation” and outlining
the main features of the emerging field of biocultural diversity, in both research and practice. It concludes
with a call for action for those involved or interested in conservation work from a biocultural perspective.
Over tthe ppast ttwo
decades aa ssignifi-
cant ddisconnect hhas
become aapparent
between bbiological
and ssocio-ccultural
approaches tto cconser-
vation... ssomewhat
reminiscent oof tthe
gap tthat CC.P. SSnow
famously iidentified
between tthe ““two ccul-
tures” oof sscience aand
the aarts
