What is it about?
Using Zimbabwe as a case study this paper examines how political, economic and social crisis caused INGOs to withdraw from the country. The withdrawal took various forms that are explored. On the main the motivation for this were the political decisions in most western capitals disagreeing with the ruling party, Zanu PF's approach to land reform. The paper explores the extent to which political decisions ought to influence conservation organisations to work in countries.
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Why is it important?
This paper explores, from a practitioner's viewpoint, the politics of deciding where conservation organisations work or withdraw from . It gives an invaluable take in a world of competing interests for conservation organisations (like justice and human rights); and, where funding for conservation comes from; or, is influenced by governments . What should conservation organisations consider in these circumstances. What are the gains and losses for conservation on the ground in an athropocene era.
Perspectives
I think this paper addresses one of the key questions that conservationists and all those that care about Africa (and other developing countries)'s contribution to global biodiversity conservation and human development. Do you go for easy picks when you can support innovative spaces that in the long run make large differences through methods and approaches? This remains a major challenge when nature and people need to live more in harmony than ever before.
Mr Mxolisi Sibanda
University of Cambridge
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Lessons from the conservation sector's response to a crisis environment in Zimbabwe, Oryx, March 2014, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0030605312001019.
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