Conservation Politics and Governance

3 credits

Conservation is often framed as a scientific enterprise, but todays global biodiversity conservation strategies are as much the result of politics as they are of science. In this class, we will examine how the range of conservation strategies found today - from community-based natural resource management to the Convention on Biological Diversity reflect negotiations between experts, politicians, and citizens as they grapple with the complex question of which species should exist where and to whose benefit. Particular attention will be given to North American conservation efforts and their global implications.