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SUMMARY:What do conservationists think about markets? - Dr. Chris Sandbroo
 k\, UNEP-WCMC\, Affiliated Lecturer
DTSTART:20130430T120000Z
DTEND:20130430T130000Z
UID:TALK45757@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:RSKD
DESCRIPTION:Chris Sandbrook will lead a discussion on this paper co-author
 ed with Bhaskar Vira and Janet Fisher\, currently in press at Geoforum. \n
 \nAbstract: The recent history of biodiversity conservation practice has b
 een characterised by the increasing use of Market-Based Instruments. In se
 eking to understand this development\, an emerging body of critical social
  science research tends to characterise conservationists as being ideologi
 cally in favour of markets in conservation. An alternative possibility is 
 that conservationists pursue market solutions as a pragmatic response to p
 revailing political and economic circumstances. In this paper we seek to e
 stablish empirically what a sample of conservation professionals actually 
 think about markets in conservation. We used Q- methodology\, a tool for a
 nalysing structure and form within respondents' subjective positions. The 
 results show that our respondents are circumspect about the growing use of
  markets in conservation. We identify two dominant discourses that we labe
 l 'outcome focused enthusiasm and 'ideological scepticism'. Neither of the
 se perspectives indicates strong\, or uncritical\, support for market appr
 oaches\, and the views of our respondents appear to recognise the limitati
 ons of markets both in theory and practice. While there is some difference
  in views between the two dominant discourses that we document in this pap
 er\, there is considerable convergence towards a position that we label 'c
 autious pragmatism'. We conclude that those studying conservation need to 
 be cautious about over- generalising the perspectives and values held by c
 onservation professionals\, as there appears to be far less consensus abou
 t the adoption of market-led approaches in this sector than has been sugge
 sted. Further research could investigate the drivers of pro-market behavio
 ur at the organisational level given the evident personal scepticism of ou
 r respondents.
LOCATION:Seminar Room
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