Lasting Conservation, Led by Indigenous Heritage | Adjany Costa | TED
Voiceless Communities in Conservation
The speaker discusses the issue of voiceless communities in conservation efforts and the importance of genuine community-based conservation.
Community-Based Conservation Washing
- Conservation organizations often impose pre-designed plans on communities instead of involving them, akin to greenwashing.
Bringing Community Voices to Policy Making
- Proposes shifting focus from bringing science to communities to incorporating community voices into research and policy-making.
Context: Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA)
- Describes KAZA as a significant wetland system spanning five countries, home to wildlife and millions of people, emphasizing the unprotected sources in eastern Angola.
Restoring Heritage Through Storytelling
The speaker shares the story of Mama Lerógio and highlights the importance of preserving local tales for heritage restoration.
Importance of Local Tales
- Mama Lerógio's tale about Mukissi underscores the significance of mythical stories in cultural preservation.
Impact of War on Heritage
- War-induced storytelling gaps have led to a loss of heritage ownership among younger generations.
Empowering Communities for Stewardship
Strategies are discussed to empower communities through storytelling, mapping exercises, and alternative livelihood exploration.
Restoring Pride and Ownership
- Efforts focus on reviving oral storytelling traditions to instill pride and stewardship among community members.
Visualizing Impact
- Mapping exercises help villagers understand their land's influence beyond borders, fostering a sense of importance and connection.
Fostering Independence in Conservation
Real community-based conservation emphasizes independence over dependency for lasting impact.
Trusting Communities
- Emphasizes that true conservation involves empowering communities to trust themselves rather than external entities or grand plans.
Sustainable Conservation Approach