The Future of Sustainability: Have Your Say!

Week Two - “Human Wellbeing and Sustainability”
Comment / Comentario / Commentaire

Rick Murphy, Gorilla Conservation/Education, Congo

Moderating team: Rick Murphy responds to Dr. Khosla’s questions and emphasizes working from the bottom up, education, inclusion of locals in conservation projects, honest communication, and IUCN’s potential role in pressuring governments that over-exploit natural resources.

Rick Murphy responde a las preguntas del Dr. Khosla y resalta algunos puntos: el trabajo de abajo hacia arriba, la educación, la inclusión de los pobladores locales en proyectos de conservación, comunicación transparente. Finalmente afirma que la UICN tiene un rol en presionar a los gobiernos que sobreexplotan los recursos naturales.

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Dr. Khosla highlights important issues facing conservation in the 21st century and asks interesting questions that will have a variety of answers.

"How can we scale-up ways of eradicating poverty and sustainably managing the environment?”

This question depends on what part of the world we are discussing. In most Western countries we have democratic systems in place to vote for laws which help to manage our environment, at least in theory. This simply isn't the case in many poor countries such as in Africa where we have seen the negative affects of dictatorships. Leaders hold nearly all the power leaving the people with no leverage and with no control over exploitation of their land and animals.

We must build from the bottom up. This can be done by 'scaling up' projects that involve those living within the region that needs protection. Neither educating nor including local populations in projects is a mistake that has proven its failure in poor countries around the world. One concern with this is the possibility of money grabs by locals, especially when dealing with animals. They are often brought to sanctuaries with questionable histories. Some people figure the more animals they can put in a sanctuary the more money that will be donated.

"How can the conservation and environment community play more effective roles in addressing issues of social justice, security and human wellbeing?"

I will use gorilla conservation as an example; when we speak to an audience back home, far away from natural gorilla habitat, we must tell the complete story. The audience is there to hear about the current state of the gorilla population yet we must tell them about the human population as well. Some in the audience will enjoy hearing stories about the gorillas though they may not want to hear about how the animals are poached and end up as bushmeat. For instance - when discussing the current state of the Eastern lowland gorillas not everyone wants to hear how the local humans suffer at the hands of militia. The rapes, sexual mutilations, kidnappings, murders and looting of villages can be overwhelming yet still I believe we must tell these stories so others can try to comprehend how difficult it is for conservationists to ask people to save animals when they are under such threat. We have to make it clear that the humans are a big part of the project.

"Should IUCN be playing a role in responding to challenges of unsustainable consumption and wasteful production systems in industrialized economies?"

I would say yes to IUCN involvement if it can put pressure on the political structure of countries involved in exploitation of natural resources including minerals, ore, trees and animals (bushmeat). This is both the country of origin as well as the country were the exploiters come from.

Unsustainable consumption would include having to face the task of over population and building an education model that could address this serious problem.

"How would you define the ‘good life’? How can IUCN help you achieve it?"

If you are asking that question in poverty stricken areas around the world then I think food, shelter, clean water, jobs, basic health care and physical security would be the good life. I concern myself with raising funds for our projects and the cost of traveling to and from Africa yet my colleagues in Africa concern themselves with the safety of their wives, children and own lives because of attacks on their villages at the hands of militia.

"Over 16,000 species of plants and animals are listed as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. What are the most innovative ways of communicating the links between human well being and species conservation?"

When speaking to those living in the area to be protected point out the ways they will be negatively affected by habitat destruction and the reduction or elimination of the animal population. Include the citizens in the conservation of their flora and fauna so more of them will be willing to help. The pygmies of Eastern DR Congo were told they could no longer live in some protected areas. With that comes our responsibility to provide alternative means so they can feed themselves and their families. This still goes back to the basics so it doesn't have to be innovative, though any new ideas are very welcomed.