Conservation, Conflict, and Peace – Lessons Learned and Strategies for Success

Apr 17, 2023 | Nora Moraga-Lewy
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Conservation – protecting nature for people and climate – often implicitly involves the transformation of relationships between people, land, and resources. This can involve new land and resource access, use, and ownership arrangements, as well as the introduction of new value systems and priorities. Conservation efforts play out in different cultural and political contexts and can interact with conflict dynamics in several ways. Different kinds of social and civil conflict and conflict legacies can pose important risks for conservation, and conservation can inadvertently worsen or trigger different kinds of conflict, adversely affecting communities and undermining their own goals. On the other hand, considering the critical role of the environment for livelihood, health, and culture, conservation can support positive peace – where not only violence is absent, but society thrives.