Species on the Move: Environmental Change, Displacement and Conservation

Abstract

Forced displacement of humans and other species catalyzed by environmental change is anticipated to increase dramatically. Studies suggest that as many as 1.2 billion people are vulnerable to environmental displacement by 2050 and that 50 percent or more of all species are already on the move due to environmental change. Migration is a common adaptive response to shocks and stresses that can also become a shock or stress itself, damaging ecosystems and triggering conflicts. As the prospect of a massive increase in forced displacement comes into focus, how might conservation practices be affected, and what sort of adjustments might be required? This article characterizes this growing challenge, considers its implications for conservation, and outlines responses that could foster socioecologically just outcomes.

人类和其它物种因环境变化而被迫迁移的现象, 预计将会大幅增加。研究表明, 到2050年, 多达12亿人会受到环境迁移的影响, 超过50%的物种已经因为环境变化而正在迁移。迁移不仅是对冲击和压力的常见适应性反应, 迁移本身也可能造成冲击或压力、破坏生态系统、引发冲突。随着我们关注未来大幅增加的被迫迁移, 保护措施可能会受到什么影响、可能需要什么调整？本文描述了该日益严峻的挑战, 思考了该挑战对保护的影响, 列举了促进社会生态公正结果的可能应对措施。

Se anticipa que aumenten drásticamente los desplazamientos forzados de seres humanos y otras especies catalizadas por el cambio ambiental. Los estudios sugieren que para el 2050 unos 1.200 millones de personas serán vulnerables al desplazamiento, y que el 50 por ciento o más de todas las especies ya se encuentran en movimiento, ocasionado por cambios ambientales. La migración es una respuesta común de adaptación a los impactos y el estrés que pueden también convertirse en un impacto o estrés en sí misma, dañando ecosistemas y desencadenando conflictos. En la medida en que un incremento masivo del desplazamiento forzado atrae la atención general, ¿cómo podrán afectarse las prácticas de conservación y qué tipo de ajustes podrían ser necesarios? Este artículo caracteriza este reto en expansión, considera sus implicaciones para la conservación y esboza las respuestas que podrían fomentar resultados sociológicamente justos.

Key Words:

• climate change
• conflict
• conservation
• displacement
• forced migration

关键词：:

• 气候变化
• 冲突
• 保护
• 迁移
• 被迫迁移。

Palabras clave::

• cambio climático
• conflicto
• conservación
• desplazamiento
• migración forzada

Notes

1 The distinction between human and non-human species is analytically useful but not intended to suggest independence or hierarchy.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard Matthew

RICHARD MATTHEW is a Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697. E-mail: [email protected]. His research focuses on understanding and addressing human security and conservation challenges at the intersection of severe ecological and climatic stress, extreme poverty, forced displacement, and violent conflict.

Elaine (Lan Yin) Hsiao

ELAINE (LAN YIN) HSIAO is an Assistant Professor in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242. E-mail: [email protected]. She is an interdisciplinary legal scholar, specializing in transboundary conservation areas, conflict, and environmental peace building. Her research integrates critical legal geography and political ecology with security, peace, and conflict studies in the context of conservation.

Philippe Le Billon

PHILIPPE LE BILLON is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests bring together political geography, political ecology, and war studies. He has focused on the links between natural resources and armed conflicts but also examined the political economy of war and reconstruction, the resource curse, and corruption, as well as natural disasters and political crises.

Galeo Saintz

GALEO SAINTZ is the Co-Chair of the IUCN-CEESP’s Theme on Environment and Peace and Founding Chair of the World Trails Network, 1196 Gland, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected]. In addition to leading conservation awareness expeditions in both South Africa and the United States, his current work focuses on reimagining conservation in light of the challenges posed by environmental change, migration, and conflict.