Wild Hope: On the Front Lines of Conservation Success
The narrative of conservation and environment is often one of destruction and despair. Because so many big issues happen so far from our doorsteps, it’s easy to distance ourselves from it all and assume that nothing anybody does will make a difference.
In this book the author, a Professor of Conservation Science at Cambridge, presents an alternative narrative of success.
In seven vividly written case studies, he details ongoing work that is making a difference. Some like the work of the Marine Stewardship Council are well known. Less well known is the work of groups such as the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, which protects highly endangered one horned rhinos, the Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve, a large restored wetland in the Netherlands, and the farmers in the mountains of Ecuador, who are trying to preserve a ‘cloud forest’ which feeds the streams that water their fields and contains a whole range of species found nowhere else.
The key to success, according to Balmford is working with instead of against governments, farmers, and even corporations. This advice only goes into uncomfortable territory with the story of a successful biodiversity project in Western Australia run by the mining company Alcoa. They may be doing good work in that local area, but globally several questions remain about the company’s eco credentials.
If the book has a fault it’s one that the author readily concedes – that he has cherry picked the best projects for his stories. Most are not so successful or well organised and many successes are short-term and require difficult compromises in the face of global conditions beyond the control of many conservationists such climate change, overconsumption and overpopulation.
Armchair conservationists take note: apart from being a good read, simply buying the book does some conservation good. All profits from its sales go to three conservation groups which Balmford feels are making the biggest difference.
Wild Hope: On the Front Lines of Conservation Success
Andrew Balmford
University of Cihcago Press
Hardback
£17
- This review appeared in Geographical magazine circa January 2013.
