Seminar examines conservation as a central element in political and social debate

The University Colloquium on the Global South will present a seminar by Peter Brosius, professor of anthropology and director of the Center for Integrative Conservation Research at the University of Georgia. The seminar, titled "Global Conservation and the Politics of Scale", will take place today, from 2:30 to 4:30pm, in 305 York Lanes.

As global environmental change proceeds at an unprecedented pace at the beginning of the 21st Century, conservation has become a central element in civic and political debates in both Northern and Southern nations. Responding to these debates, new forms of conservation practice are continually emerging.

Left: Peter Brosius

In this discussion, Brosius will focus on the recent proliferation of strategic approaches to conservation, seen most clearly in the linked enterprises of eco-regional conservation planning and conservation finance. He will further examine how social scientists have responded to these developments, and assess the value of recent social science contributions to conservation. As well, he will describe an emerging program of integrative conservation research that attempts to link conservation science and the social sciences in a more productive manner.

Brosius is the former president of the American Anthropological Association’s Anthropology and Environment department. He is widely published in anthropology and conservation biology journals and currently serves as associate editor of the journal Human Ecology. He serves on the editorial board of American Anthropologist. He is also completing a book, titled "Arresting Images: The Sarawak Rainforest Campaign and Transnational Environmental Politics".

The University Colloquium on the Global South is an open space for debate and critical inquiry for students, faculty members, NGOs, social activists and policy makers. Colloquia are free and do not require pre-registration.

For information or to register for updates, visit the University Consortium on the Global South Web site or contact Joelle Reid at joelle@yorku.ca.

This event is co-sponsored by the Faculty of Environmental Studies, York Centre for Asian Research (YCAR), the department of Geography, the department of Anthropology and the Graduate Program in Anthropology.