Conservation Social Science: Understanding People, Conserving Biodiversity

Groundbreaking book that examines the essential contribution of the social sciences to understanding and conserving biodiversity across the globe Authored by leading scholars at the nexus of social science and biodiversity conservation, Conservation Social Science addresses the growing realization that biodiversity conservation is, at heart, a social phenomenon. Threats to biological diversity are influenced by a wide range of political, economic and cultural factors. The conservation of biodiversity is conceived and carried out by people. Biodiversity conservation is a manifestation of human beliefs and values. Choices about which species and habitats to conserve, how to prioritize efforts, and how to conserve them are inherently social − with consequences not just for wildlife but also human lives and livelihoods. Key topics covered in this thought-provoking text include: An introduction to key social science disciplines and how each field specifically relates to biodiversity conservation How to make social sciences an integral part of conservation strategies and initiatives How social science theories and analytic approaches can explain and help predict patterns of human behavior How biodiversity conservation as a ubiquitous societal phenomenon can provide insights into human society in general Conservation Social Science is an essential, one-of-a-kind survey of novel approaches to explaining and fostering more effective, just, and enduring conservation of biodiversity. It is academically rigorous and comprehensive in scope, yet sufficiently nontechnical and concise to be accessible to a global audience of students, faculty, and environmental professionals and policymakers.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors ix Foreword xi Acknowledgements xiii Abbreviations and Acronyms xv 1 Introduction: Biodiversity Conservation and the Social Sciences 1 Ivan R. Scales, Daniel C. Miller, and Michael B. Mascia 2 Social Science Foundations 21 Katie Moon and Deborah Blackman 3 Anthropology and Conservation 49 Diane Russell and C. Anne Claus 4 Economics and Conservation 99 Stephen Polasky 5 Human Geography and Conservation 139 Ivan R. Scales and William M. Adams 6 Political Science and Conservation 185 Daniel C. Miller and Arun Agrawal 7 Psychology and Conservation 233 Olin Eugene Myers Jr. 8 Sociology and Conservation 289 Jennifer Swanson, Steven R. Brechin, and J. Timmons Roberts 9 Conclusion: Toward Better Conversations about Conservation 335 Daniel C. Miller, Ivan R. Scales, and Michael B. Mascia Glossary 349 Index 353

About the Author :
Daniel C. Miller, PhD is Associate Professor of Environmental Policy at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA. Ivan R. Scales, PhD is Associate Professor in Geography at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Michael B. Mascia, PhD is Senior Scientist and Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, USA.