Sian Sullivan

Towards a Synthesized Critique of Neoliberal Biodiversity Conservation

During the last three decades, the arena of biodiversity conservation has largely aligned itself with the globally dominant political ideology of neoliberalism and associated governmentalities. Schemes such as payments for ecological services are promoted to reach the multiple ‘wins’ so desired: improved biodiversity conservation, economic development, (international) cooperation and poverty alleviation, amongst others. While critical scholarship with respect to understanding the linkages between neoliberalism, capitalism and the environment has a long tradition, a synthesized critique of neoliberal conservation - the ideology (and related practices) that the salvation of nature requires capitalist expansion - remains lacking. This paper aims to provide such a critique. We commence with the assertion that there has been a conflation between ‘economics’ and neoliberal ideology in conservation thinking and implementation. As a result, we argue, it becomes easier to distinguish the main problems that neoliberal win-win models pose for biodiversity conservation. These are framed around three points: the stimulation of contradictions; appropriation and misrepresentation and the disciplining of dissent. Inspired by Bruno Latour’s recent ‘compositionist manifesto’, the conclusion outlines some ideas for moving beyond critique.

Elephant in the Room? Problematising ‘New’ (Neoliberal) Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract As argued recently in Forum for Development Studies, a ‘back to the barriers’ approach to biodiversity conservation is again prevalent, after some two decades of emphasis on ‘community-based’ initiatives. This involves the establishment and expansion of national parks from which people are variously excluded. In this article, however, I suggest that community-based approaches such as Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) remain important, and in many ways simply constitute the other side of the same coin of modem conservation practice under the political and economic, and cultural, value-frame of neoliberalism. My aim is to highlight some shared conceptualizations and rationalisations regarding perceptions of ‘the environment’ and of people-environment relationships that inform both of these two broad-brush policy and practical orientations towards ‘biodiversity conservation’. The article thus draws on a Foucaultian analytics to ‘problematise’ the contemporaly and globalising neoliberal episteme within which both these approaches are produced; and to open a space where orientations (towards ‘the environment’) that are ‘othered’ and thereby silenced by this frame might be articulated.

Conservation and concealment in SpeciesBanking.com, USA: an analysis of neoliberal performance in the species offsetting industry

Market-based strategies are promoted as neoliberal governance solutions to environmental problems, from local to global scales. Tradable mitigation schemes are proliferating. These include species banking, which enables payments for the purchase of species credits awarded to conserved areas to offset development impacts on protected species elsewhere. An analysis of species banks in the USA through a survey of data from the website www.SpeciesBanking.com (established as a ‘clearing house’ for species banking information) was complemented by questionnaire material from USA bank managers. The number of USA species banks has increased rapidly, bank area ownership and management is consolidated in a small number of organizations, and public information on species credit price is limited. In interrogating the case material, the roles of specific economic policies associated with neoliberalism are considered, focusing on the extension of privatization, de- and re-regulation and marketization into the arena of environmental conservation, and commodification processes as manifested in species banking. Problematic ecological and distributive ‘concealments’ in species banking include the ‘development-led’ nature of conservation banking, tendencies towards net biodiversity loss, and an emphasis on supporting conservation-related wealth accumulation by larger landowners and investors.

Becoming Global (Un)Civil Society: Counter-Hegemonic Struggle and the Indymedia Network

In this article we ask how ‘civil society’ actors and organizations can become constructed and treated as ‘uncivil society’. We contest the notion that ‘uncivil’ necessarily equates with the dark qualities of violence and organized criminality. Instead, we take a Gramscian perspective in suggesting that what becomes ‘uncivil’ is any practice and organization that substantially contests the structuring enclosures of hegemonic order, of which civil society is a necessary part. To trace this, we consider ways in which a global grass-roots media network called Indymedia has established and maintained itself as a counter-hegemonic media-producing organization. In this case, a conscious positioning and self-identification as counter-hegemonic has been accompanied by the framing and sometimes violent policing of nodes and practices of this network as ‘uncivil’ by cooperating state authorities. This is in the absence of association of this network with organized violence or crime. We intend our reflections to contribute to a deepening theorization of the terms ‘civil’ and ‘uncivil’ as they are becoming used in social movement and globalization studies. En este artículo preguntamos cómo pueden los actores de la ‘sociedad civil’ y las organizaciones llegar a configurarse y ser tratados como ‘sociedad incivil’. Nosotros refutamos la noción de que lo ‘incivil’ necesariamente equivale a las características oscuras de violencia y criminalidad organizada. En cambio, tomamos una perspectiva de Gramscian, sugiriendo que lo que se vuelve ‘incivil’ es cualquier práctica y organización que refuta sustancialmente los confinamientos estructurados del orden hegemónico, del cual la sociedad civil es una parte necesaria. Para rastrear esto, nosotros consideramos las formas en que una red de medios de base popular llamada Indymedia se ha establecido y mantenido a sí misma como una organización contrahegemónica de producción de medios. En este caso, un posicionamiento consciente y de autoidentificación como contrahegemónica, ha sido acompañado por la configuración y a veces por vigilancia violenta de nodos y prácticas de esta red como ‘incivil’ al cooperar con las autoridades estatales. Esto es en ausencia de una asociación de esta red con la violencia o la delincuencia. Nosotros pretendemos que nuestras reflexiones contribuyan a profundizar la teorización de los términos ‘civil’ e ‘incivil’ en la medida en que se están usando en los estudios sobre movimientos sociales y globalización. 在本文中我们设问“公民社会”的行为者和组织如何被建构并被视作一个“非公民社会”。本文对“非公民”必然等同于暴力和有组织犯罪的黑暗性质这一概念提出质疑。本文取而代之采用一种葛兰西式的分析，即认为造成“非公民”的是本质上挑战霸权秩序（公民社会是其必要部分）的任何行动或组织。为了求证，我们考察一家叫“独立媒体”的全球草根媒体网络确立并维护其作为一个反霸权媒体生产组织的方式。其中，伴随着一种反霸权的刻意定位和自我认同的，是与之合作的国家当局形塑甚至有时狂暴地管束这一网络的节点和实践，视其为“非公民”。这表明该网络和有组织暴力或犯罪之间缺乏关联。本文意在当“公民的”及“非公民的”概念被用于社会运动和全球化研究时，使我们的反思在能有助于加深这两个术语的理论化。

The impact of utilization of palm products on the population structure of the vegetable ivory palm (Hyphaene petersiana, Arecaceae) in north-central Namibia

Indigenous trees fulfil many subsistence and economic needs in north-central Namibia.Hyphaene petersiana provides a range of products which contribute to most aspects of people’s livelihoods. Of particular importance is its income-generating capacity through the use of palm leaves for basket production and the sale of liquor distilled from the fruits. This study investigates the population structure ofHyphaene petersiana in two areas of different human and livestock densities. Data were recorded for height class distribution, basal diameter of mature, stemmed individuals and sex ratios. These parameters of population structure indicate a reduction in the recruitment of mature palms and an increase in single-stemmed, vegetatively reproduced palm suckers of the smallest size class (0.5 m). This trend is more pronounced in the site with greater human and livestock population densities. It appears to be related to high recorded levels of browsing by livestock of juvenile, unstemmed palms, despite the unpalatability of palm leaves. This acts to prevent recruitment into larger size classes and increase the compensatory growth of palm suckers, the latter being enhanced due to reduced competition through the prior removal by grazing animals of grasses and other herbaceous species. Accompanying this heavy pressure on juvenile palms are destructive uses of mature, stemmed palms, including their felling for construction purposes and tapping for palm wine. With regional human population increase, exacerbated by a recent trend to privatise land and raise pressure on remaining communal resources, it is possible that these destructive uses of mature palms will increase to unsustainable levels. Concern is thus expressed in this study regarding the long-term viability ofHyphaene petersiana populatiops in this area.RésuméAs árvores indigenas satisfazem muitas das necessidades de subsistência das populacoes de Owambo. A Hyphaene petersiana fornece uma gama de productos que contribuem em muitos aspectos para o sustento das gentes daquela regiao. Cita-se em particular o seu papel na criação de rendimento atraves do uso dasfolhas da palmeira na confecção de cestos e da utilização dos frutos no fabrico de ‘olambika’ (aguardente), produtos que sao depois vendidos. Estas duas actividades sao desempenhadas quase exclusivamente por mulheres. Neste estudo manifesta-se preocupação em relação às modiflcaçoes operadas na população deH. petersiana desta regiao. A renovaçao das palmeiras é reduzida pelo pastar intensivo de rebanhos que comem os rebentos de palmeira. A isto se junta um aumento na utilização destrutiva das palmeiras maduras e de outras espécies de árvores. A exacerbar este processo cita-se a tendência recente para a privatização de terras anteriormente exploradas colectivamente. Isto deu origem a um aumento na exploração das restantes terra comunais que está a causar o colapso dos direitos tradicionais ao usufruto dos recursos vegetais.Omiti dhomoshitopolwa ohadhi gwanitha po oompumbwe odhidji dhopamahupilo gaakalimo yomOwambo. Omuti gwendhinaHyphaene petersiana (omulunga) ohagu eta po iilikolomwa oyindji mbyoka hayi kwathele moompumbwe odhindji dhomonkalamwenyo yaantu. Omuti nguka agwa simana unene sho gahu etapo po eliko tali zi melongitho lyoombale mokutunga oontungwa, iimbamba, omashungu nuuyanambale, nokelanditho lyolambika ndjoka hayi zi moondunga. Iilikolomwa ayihe ya tumbulwa pombanda ohayi etwa po konyala kaakiintu ashike. Moshinyolwa shika omunyoli ota holola uumbanda tau etwa po komalunduluko ogendji tagi inyenge moshitopolwa ga guma omuti ngukaH. petersiana (omulunga). Oludhi nduka otalu shonopala unene sho iiyale hayi liwa po kiimuna manga yi li iishona. Omiti ndhika, osho wo dhilwe ndhoka hadhi longithwa momauhupilo otadhi shonopala neendelelo oshoka odha tamekwa okulongithwa komikalo dhilwe dhi Hi, she etwa po keshonopalo lyomaludhi gomiti dhilwe. Omukalo omupe moshitopolwa gwokuninga evi lyaayehe lyopaumwene otagu endeleleke eshonopalo lyomiti ndhika. Iitopolwa yaayehe oya shonopalekwa nevi lyaayehe otali longithwa sha pitilila tashifala sigo okengushukuluko lyevi. [OSHIWAMBO]

The effects of utilization by people and livestock on Hyphaene petersiana (Arecaceae) basketry resources in the palm savanna of North-Central Namibia

Basketry production is an important informal sector activity in the palm savanna of north-central Namibia, particularly for women. This study assesses the comparative impact of utilization by basket makers and browsing livestock in areas of different human and livestock population pressures on the source of weaving fibre, leaves from juvenile individuals of the vegetable ivory palm,Hyphaene petersiana. Mature individuals of this species are an important source of edible fruit. Destructive uses of mature individuals such as tapping for palm wine and the cutting of stems for construction purposes are also practised, even though they are forbidden by customary law. Unlike other centres of basket production in southern Africa, the level of leaf utilization for basketry is low and there is potential for greater use of this resource. Despite the unpalatability of this species, a cause for concern, however, is the intensity of browsing by domestic livestock on young palms, which may affect the future structure and viability of the palm population in north-central Namibia. This predicted degradation of a multiple-use species such asH. petersiana represents the gradual erosion of an important buffer against rural poverty, loss of income and reduction in food security.RésuméEtungo lyimbale olyi li omahupilo goomeme yamwe mboka yeli moshitopolwa shopokati shaWambo. Oshinyolwa shika otashi konaakona oshilanduli sheindjipalo lyaakalimo nolyiitungwa komuti gwedhinaHyphaene petersiana (omulunga), ngoka ogwo onza yiitungitho yiilikolomwa ya tumbulwa pombanda. Pakuyelaka nomahala gamwe muAfrika lyokuumbugantu moka hamu tungwa oontungwa, elongitho lyoombale mOwambo olyi lipevi, nelongitho lyolunza nduka otashi vulika li nenepalekwe. Unanapelo woondoongi, iikombo noongombe kiiyale otau eta omalimbililo notashi vulika u ete po omukundu gwopamahupilo komeho. Ehanagulo po lyomiti dhiiyimati ngaashiHyphaene petersiana otaili shonopaleke oshikandekitho sholuhepo notashi vulika shifale sigo omekanitho lyiikulya miitopolwa yomomikunda.[OSHIWAMBO] A produção de centos e outros artigos de vime é uma actividade importante do sector naoconvencional em Owambo, no norte da Namibia, particularmente para as mulheres. Este estudo investiga o impacto da produção de cestos e da exploração por pane de população humana na planta que fornece as fibras, apalmeiraMarfim VegetalouHyphaene petersiana. Contráriamente ao que se verifica em outros centros de produção de cestos na Africa Austral, o grau de utilização da folha da palmeira nao é elevado e a potencialidade existe para o uso mais intensivo deste recurso vegetal. É no entanto motivo de preocupação o pastar intenso de gado bovino, de cobras e de burros que comem as palmeiras jovens o que provávelmente afectará a estrutura e a viabilidade da população de palmeiras no futuro. A degradação de plantas produtoras de frutos comestíveis como a Hyphaene representa o esgotamento de uma defesa importante contra a pobreza das populaçoes rurais.

Comparing Alternative Media in North and South: The Cases of IFIWatchnet and Indymedia in Africa

Alternative media form an important part of the global mediascape. Research on this phenomenon is, however, often drawn from studies in the ‘global North’. In this paper we discuss alternative media in the ‘global South’, by exploring two case studies of cooperation between Northern and Southern partners: IFIWatchnet in South America, and Indymedia Centre in Africa. We highlight how Northern and Southern partners differed in identity, organizational forms, and accountability. We find that Northern partners were oriented to more ‘marginal’ identities, fluid organizational structures, and informal structures of accountability. In contrast, Southern activists articulated more ‘mainstream’ identities, relied on more structured forms, and linked to formalized modes of accountability. The result was often significant clashes over what it meant to be alternative media, how alternative media should be organized, and how people should be held to account. This meant that North–South cooperation was often fraught with struggle. These difficulties are reminiscent of the limitations of creating global cooperation through seeking to spread modes of activist organization developed in the North, which emphasize autonomy, networks, fluidity, and, in some instances, direct action.

“Mathematics maybe, but not money”: On balance sheets, numbers and nature in ecological accounting

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to consider and compare different ways of using numbers to value aspects of nature-beyond-the-human through case analysis of ecological and natural capital accounting practices in the UK that create standardised numerical-economic values for beyond-human natures. In addition, to contrast underlying ontological and ethical assumptions of these arithmetical approaches in ecological accounting with those associated with Pythagorean nature-numbering practices and fractal geometry. In doing so, to draw out distinctions between arithmetical and geometrical ontologies of nature and their relevance for “valuing nature”. Design/methodology/approach - Close reading and review of policy texts and associated calculations in: UK natural capital accounts for “opening stock” inventories in 2007 and 2014; and in the experimental implementation of biodiversity offsetting (BDO) in land-use planning in England. Tracking the iterative calculations of biodiversity offset requirements in a specific planning case. Conceptual review, drawing on and contrasting different numbering practices being applied so as to generate numerical-economic values for natures-beyond-the-human. Findings - In the cases of ecological accounting practices analysed here, the natures thus numbered are valued and “accounted for” using arithmetical methodologies that create commensurability and facilitate appropriation of the values so created. Notions of non-monetary value, and associated practices, are marginalised. Instead of creating standardisation and clarity, however, the accounting practices considered here for natural capital accounts and BDO create nature-signalling numbers that are struggled over and contested. Originality/value - This is the first critical engagement with the specific policy texts and case applications considered here, and, the authors believe, the first attempt to contrast arithmetical and geometrical numbering practices in their application to the understanding and valuing of natures-beyond-the-human.

Conceptualizing Glocal Organization: From Rhizome to E=mc2 in Becoming Post-Human

Have you ever tried to locate your home using the online program Google Earth? I tried this recently. The program opened with a satellite image of the Earth against the black background of space, North America the default continent that loomed large in front of me. I typed in the simple six character postcode for my home in Norwich, United Kingdom (UK). Within seconds the globe had spun around and was speeding towards me — initially a blur of blue ocean, green vegetation and brown built-up areas, rapidly disaggregating into clusters of trees and the edges of buildings. The process made my stomach lurch, producing a sensation of roller-coaster vertigo. The dive from space to the hill that I live on, and the house that I live in, lasted approximately five seconds: a bewildering movement from global to local; a near simultaneous experience of inhabiting - of dwelling - in both a planet and a place.

Globalization from below? ICTs and Democratic Development in the Project “Indymedia Africa”

Indymedia Africa (IMCA) is a global network of media activists that aims to both connect and foster the use of Independent Media in Africa. Originating in the digital age activism of the late nineties, the Indymedia network has been surfing a wave of optimism regarding the potentials of new media and the digital public sphere to democratize publishing and the media. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were understood as permitting “convergence” between people and movements in a horizontally organized fashion, thereby facilitating desired organizational cultures based on consensus and plurality, and producing “open spaces” relatively unstructured and uncontrolled by conventional political and economic structures. As an element of a “globalization from below,” IMCA considered these ideas as an answer to problems of democracy and freedom of expression in Africa and attempted to spread its own organizational principles into African independent media. In four years of creating virtual and physical convergence spaces, online forums, and Web sites, as well as organizing transnational gatherings, however, the IMCA network has had to face something of a reality check regarding the conditions of its own work and the African context. It has also gone through a process of action and reflection that appears symptomatic for a variety of initiatives of global cooperation in the field of new media, highlighting the limits of technological and pragmatic answers to the debate of the democratic potentials of these media.