INCLUSIVE CONSERVATION
WWF-Australia's inclusive conservation approach aims to deliver well-being and equitable outcomes for people as well as restore and regenerate nature.
To create a world where people live and prosper in harmony with nature, our solutions must deliver positive outcomes for nature, communities, and climate. Only by delivering on all three will we ensure solutions that are long-term, sustainable and driven by local people and communities. By practising inclusive conservation, we can create new partnerships and ways of working that support both people and nature to thrive.
What is inclusive conservation?
Inclusive conservation (IC) recognises the inextricable link between people and nature. It strives to support people's sustainable development aspirations while restoring and regenerating nature.
It is an approach for accommodating and balancing different visions for conservation and development, and for achieving socially relevant, economically productive and environmentally sustainable outcomes.
Inclusive conservation is underpinned by the principles of inclusion, equity and justice, which require addressing power imbalances that produce inequity. It is about ensuring that all people, especially those most impacted by marginalisation and vulnerability, can meaningfully contribute to and benefit from efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the natural environment.
Inclusive conservation seeks to especially uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, children and youth; and pursues gender equity, disability and social inclusion.
Did you know?
Indigenous Peoples and local communities are custodians of over a third (36%) of the world’s most important places for biodiversity. Given that many of these key areas lack other forms of protection, it is clear that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play a crucial role in conserving some of the most critical areas for biodiversity.
Furthermore, Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ lands remain in good ecological condition and make up 42% of all global land in good ecological condition (65.92 million km2).
Global biodiversity goals are unattainable without the full inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The WWF Network Inclusive Conservation Good Practices are:
Throughout all our activities - whether it's in communities, in our communications or in the office - we strive to take a cross-cutting, people-centred, human rights-based approach that promotes the agency and leadership of local communities, Indigenous Peoples, women, children, youth, people with disability, and other groups experiencing marginalisation.
WWF-Australia is uniquely positioned to engage with government, civil society and private sector actors for collective action and to catalyse change that can transform systems to benefit both people and nature.
We are also well positioned to harness both global knowledge and local perspectives. Our work blends local community knowledge, especially respecting the knowledge and traditions of First Peoples, with a global mindset that allows for impact and transformation with speed and scale.
We are committed to being a continuously learning organisation that seeks to measure our progress, listen to feedback and strengthen our efforts over time.
Inclusive Conservation is a vital part of our mission to Regenerate Nature.
