Professor Rosaleen Duffy’s latest book ‘Nature Crime: How We’re Getting Conservation Wrong’ has gained a high level of exposure since its publication in June.
As summarised by the publisher Yale University Press:
‘In this impressively researched, alarming book, Rosaleen Duffy investigates the world of nature conservation, arguing that the West’s attitude to endangered wildlife is shallow, self-contradictory, and ultimately very damaging. Analyzing the workings of the black-market wildlife industry, Duffy points out that illegal trading is often the direct result of Western consumer desires, from coltan for cellular phones to exotic meats sold in London street markets. She looks at the role of ecotourism, showing how Western travelers contribute—often unwittingly—to the destruction of natural environments. Most strikingly, she argues that the imperatives of Western-style conservation often result in serious injustice to local people, who are branded as “problems” and subject to severe restrictions on their way of life and even extrajudicial killings.’
A recent review in The Guardian newspaper develops some of the book’s themes and will hopefully bring Professor Duffy’s arguments to a broader audience. Feel free to comment on these issues below.
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