By Lessah Mandoloma, Michael Clark, Lauren Coad, Karl Hughes, and E.J. Milner-Gulland.
As societies seek to live in harmony with nature, it is important to understand and acknowledge the existence of diverse contexts and solutions when planning and implementing nature conservation initiatives.
We studied factors influencing natural resource use and perceptions of wildlife and conservation in villages near Kasungu National Park, Malawi. We found that high levels of resource collection, including illegal harvesting from national parks, were strongly linked to low wealth and high food insecurity. Positive attitudes toward conservation were associated with being male and collecting resources from the park, but negatively correlated with proximity to the protected area, food insecurity, and crop and livestock losses.
This study underscores the influence of household demographics and socioeconomic factors on resource use and conservation perceptions. It advocates for re-evaluating traditional conservation policies and practices, favouring inclusive approaches that empower communities for sustainable conservation. Such strategies should be rooted in the realities of people’s reliance on natural resources and nature’s contributions across various contexts.
Understanding nature’s contributions to different economies is crucial to preventing the implementation of policies that could worsen local conditions. We must develop strategies for monitoring resource use and explore whether positive perceptions can drive participation in conservation efforts. In line with the call for different approaches in the global conservation movement (Miner-Gulland, 2021), we need strategies that consider scale, location, and context to ensure all voices are heard in the conservation process.
Relational Thinking 