Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

In Africa, "Climate-Smart" Conservation Must Be Coupled With Poverty Alleviation, Saleem H. Ali, Penda Diallo, Apoli Bertrand Kameni, Philippe Le Billon, Kopo Oromeng, Kyle Frankel Davis, Edward Carr

Geography

In August, the Seventh Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) concluded in Vancouver, Canada, with a pledge. A total of 185 countries agreed to protect 30% of land and coastal areas by 2030 (known as the “30 by 30 pledge”). But while this surge of conservation funding is heartening, there are serious concerns. Projects and programs that appear to produce both environmental and developmental goals could actually obscure the continuing marginalization of poor and vulnerable populations. Here, we suggest that such coupling of conservation and extraction needs to pay greater attention to poverty alleviation. Otherwise, it risks further marginalizing …