Going back to the roots: ubuntu and just conservation in southern Africa
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer
Abstract
Given growing human influence on the earth system's functioning, caring for nature has never been this critical. However, whether for economic interests or ‘wilderness’ preservation, attempts to save nature have been grounded on a Western scientific philosophy of separating it from people's ways of living, especially through ‘protected areas'. Under the banner ‘convivial conservation', which advocates socio-ecological justice and structural transformations in the global economic system, an alternative idea called ‘promoted areas’ has been proposed, advocating for conservation which promotes nature for, to, and by humans. Here, we argue that ‘promoted areas’ are best fitted with decolonial thinking in conservation science and practice. In southern Africa, one available ‘decolonial option’ is Ubuntu philosophy, which is anchored on the ethical principle of promoting life through mutual caring and sharing between and among humans and nonhumans. Ubuntu disengages from western ways of knowing about human–environment interactions, as it is predicated on promoting the many links between humans and nonhumans. From this, we argue that instituted through Ubuntu, ‘promoted areas’ re-initiate a harmony between human beings and physical nature, as practices of individualistic, excessive extractions of nonhuman nature are discouraged, and human–nonhuman relationships based on respect, solidarity, and collaboration are celebrated.
Description
Full-text. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/cs.cs_33_21
Keywords
Human influence, Earth system, Convivial conservation, Socio-ecological justice, Structural transformations, Global economic system, Promoted areas, Decolonial thinking, Conservation science, Southern Africa, Ubuntu philosophy, Human-nonhuman relationships, Mutual caring, Sharing, Human-environment interactions, Decolonial option, Western science, Ethical principles, Sustainable conservation.
Citation
Mabele, M. B., Krauss, J. E., & Kiwango, W. (2022). Going Back to the Roots: Ubuntu: and Just Conservation in Southern Africa. Conservation and Society, 20(2), 92-102.