Conservation Unit

This research area focuses on the incorporation of social sciences into conservation, emphasizing the recognition and analysis of power relations among human and non-human actors within conservation units. Understanding power dynamics is crucial for fostering inclusive governance, mitigating conflicts, and ensuring socially just conservation outcomes. It moves beyond traditional ecological approaches by acknowledging that conservation actions are inherently exercises of power and that social contexts, values, and actor networks shape conservation success.

This theme investigates how conservation success is measured, particularly through metrics and monitoring methods that evaluate equivalence of conservation gains and losses (e.g., in habitat, species abundance) and the effectiveness of conservation banking and area-based conservation. Research highlights challenges in defining and operationalizing metrics that accurately reflect ecological equivalence, social equity, and policy objectives, which are critical for adaptive management and informed decision-making in conservation units.

This theme explores the concept of conservation-reliant species that require ongoing management because threats cannot be fully eliminated. It emphasizes the socio-ecological dynamics within conservation units that affect the persistence of species and habitats. The research sheds light on challenges in post-recovery management, integration of local and scientific knowledge, and implications for capacity development and policy, highlighting the importance of sustained, adaptive conservation interventions.