Conservation toward anti-colonial, action-orientated futures for just and inclusive worlds: Insights from a conservation biology interactive workshop, June 2024

Abstract

Conservation science is shifting toward greater inclusivity of Indigenous peoples, driven by Indigenous advocacy for their rights, reconciliation of past harms, and the growing understanding that Indigenous peoples are essential for conservation. Yet, scientists and practitioners are still learning how to embrace anticolonial strategies that safeguard the braiding of multiple types of knowledge systems. This was the challenge posed at the 2024 North American Congress of Conservation Biology in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Through a facilitated interactive session, participants shared understandings, learnings, and recommendations of how to decolonize, challenge paradigms, and create positive change in: the context of North American conservation science, practice and action. Nine themes emerged which were: educate ourselves and society on decolonial thinking; bringing generations together; the importance of languages; creating allyship and action; deconstructing research; embrace relationality for critical conservation thinking; decolonizing society; making space for spirituality; and decolonizing institutions with more Indigenous-led and equitable systems.