Reckoning with elitism and racism in conservation
From Mongabay.com – Rhett A Butler in conversation with Colleen Begg
In a Q&A with Colleen Begg, who co-founded both the Niassa Carnivore Project in Mozambique and Women for the Environment, Africa, Begg talks about discrimination, colonial legacy, privilege, and power dynamics in conservation.
To me conservation really is one of the last bastions of racism and exclusion on the continent and it is very resistant to change.
- Long-running concerns about discrimination, colonial legacy, privilege, and power dynamics in conservation have come to the forefront with the recent resurgence of the social justice movement. But will this movement lead to lasting change in the sector?
- South African conservationist Colleen Begg says that meaningful transformation will require dedicated and sustained efforts to drive real change in conservation.
- Begg says that conservationists in positions of power need to open themselves to criticism and change, while creating pathways for new leaders and ideas to come forward.
- Begg spoke about these issues and more in a recent conversation with Mongabay founder Rhett A. Butler.