Situating the eco-social economy: Conservation initiatives and environmental organizations as catalysts for social and economic development

Date

2014

Authors

Bennett, Nathan
Lemelin, Harvey

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford Journals

Abstract

This paper uses an empirical study to demonstrate the emergence of an eco-social economy in the Canadian North. Historically, conservation was seen as a way to protect nature with the exclusion of local communities and traditional activities. However, critiques of the impacts of strict conservation on local communities has lead to a somewhat different orientation within the conservation community. The new position seeks to reconcile conservation with community development. This shift in thinking, often adopted by environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), could be seen to represent a shift towards an eco-social economy. The conservation with development mandate of ENGOs might also be more akin to the holistic way that traditional communities approach conservation since humans and nature are seen as interconnected. In indigenous ways of seeing, culture, society, and economy cannot be separated from environment. Conservation, from this perspective, becomes about cultural revitalization and engaging with appropriate development models. This paper focuses on the case study of the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation and the Thaidene Nene protected area in Canada to demonstrate that: 1) for local and indigenous people conservation is as much a social, economic, political, and cultural endeavor as it is about protection of nature; 2) local social economy organizations are emerging to advocate for conservation cum social and economic development; and, 3) ENGOs are also aligning their conservation mandates with the broader social, economic, and cultural goals of northern indigenous communities. To situate the paper, the authors argue for a more inclusive definition of the social economy that incorporates environmental organizations and conservation initiatives and movements and that makes explicit a distinct eco-social economy.

Description

Keywords

eco-social economy, social economy, conservation, community development, ENGOs, Canada, indigenous

Citation

Bennett, N. & Lemelin, R. H. (2014). Situating the Eco-Social Economy: Environmental Movements and Conservation Organizations as Catalysts for Social and Economic Development. Community Development Journal, 49 (1), 69-84.

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