Call for Proposals: Anthropology and Conservation Virtual Conference

Jan 19, 2021 | Royal Anthropological Institute
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The Royal Anthropological Institute is very pleased to announce the call for panel proposals for a major interdisciplinary conference on Anthropology and Conservation.  The aim of the conference is simple: it is increasingly recognised that conservation can only be properly achieved with Indigenous Peoples, in full recognition of their rights. It is therefore urgent that we develop cross-disciplinary understanding not just of conservation, but also of way that conservation and people go together. The conference will be held virtually. The conference was originally proposed by the University of East Anglia’s School of International Development, and the organisers are pleased to welcome as co-organisers alongside UEA: Forest Peoples Programme, the Linnean Society, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the University of Kent’s School of Anthropology and Conservation, the Anthropology and Environment Society (a section of the AAA), Botanic Garden Conservation International and the Society of Ethnobiology.

The RAI indicates a few possible areas of interest below. However, it would not wish to restrict any potential suggestion, and proposals are welcome on any aspect of the theme, whether theoretical, methodological or ethnographic. Proposals from any of the sub-fields of anthropology (social anthropology, biological anthropology, archaeology or linguistics) are welcome, as well as any of the sub-fields of conservation. We would particularly welcome panel proposals that have any combination of anthropologists, indigenous peoples and conservationists as co-convenors. The organisers would also particularly welcome proposals and papers from Indigenous Peoples, as well as from international or transnational bodies, whether organised around conservation or rights, or a combination.



Amongst the possible areas which may be considered (but not confined to these) are:

  • Conservation and Indigenous Knowledge
  • Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas and Territories
  • Sovereignty and inequality
  • Plants, peoples and conservation
  • Wildlife conservation: the influence of people on wild-life, and wild-life on people
  • Private sector initiatives and Indigenous Peoples Rights
  • Human/Wildlife conflicts and resolutions
  • Conservation areas and built heritage
  • Scale and success: what works best?
  • Impacts of deforestation on plants animals and communities
  • NGOS, and the implementation of international treaties and agreements
  • Impacts of foreign aid: Environmental impact assessments, and social impact assessments
  • DNA, microbial restoration and conservation
  • Marine conservation
  • Multi species ethnography
  • The history of conservation and anthropology initiatives
  • New Economic Models, climate change and conservation

Proposals for panels should be made by 12 March 2021 on the conference web-site here.

Fellows and members of co-organising institutions will be eligible to join the conference at the RAI Fellows rate.

Informal enquiries may be made to admin@therai.org.uk  

Call for Panels opens 18 January 2021 and closes on 12 March 2021

Call for Papers opens 19 April 2021 and closes on 2 July 2021

Registration opens 2 August 2021

Conference Fees:

Fellows & Members: £60
Non-Fellows: £120
Concessions (students, unemployed and retired persons): £30
Delegates with low income from Low Income Countries (https://g2lm-lic.iza.org/call-phase-iv/list-of-lic/):  £15"