Half-Earth or Whole Earth?: Radical Ideas for Conservation and Their Implications

Bram Büscher, Robert Fletcher, Dan Brockington, Chris Sandbrook, William M. Adams, Lisa Campbell, Catherine Corson, Wolfram Dressler, Rosaleen Duffy, Noella Gray, George Holmes, Alice Kelly, Elizabeth Lunstrum, Maano Ramutsindela, Kartik Shanker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

192 Scopus citations

Abstract

We question whether the increasingly popular, radical idea of turning half the earth into a network of protected areas is either feasible or just. We argue that this ‘half earth’ plan would have widespread negative consequences for human populations and would not meet its conservation objectives. It offers no agenda for managing biodiversity within a ‘human half’ of Earth. We call instead for alternative radical action that is both more effective and more equitable, focused directly on the main drivers of biodiversity loss by shifting the global economy from its current foundation in growth while simultaneously redressing inequality.
Original languageAmerican English
JournalOryx
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Half-earth
  • biodiversity
  • economy
  • inequality
  • protected area

EGS Disciplines

  • Environmental Studies
  • Politics and Social Change

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