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Fall 2011

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https://hdl.handle.net/10217/195450

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Browsing Fall 2011 by Author "Wyborn, Carina, speaker"

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    Science narratives: inspiring participation in large landscape conservation in Australia
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011-09) Wyborn, Carina, speaker; Unidentified speaker
    Large landscape 'connectivity conservation' initiatives are rapidly gaining prominence across the world. They are motivated by a desire to halt biodiversity decline and preserve ecosystem processes in the face of climate change and habitat fragmentation. At the heart of these initiatives is the motivation and ability of individuals, agencies and institutions to collaborate across multiple scales, land tenures and land uses. In a reasonably short period of time, proponents of connectivity conservation have launched the concept as front and centre in debates about climate change adaptation in conservation. The phenomenon of connectivity conservation has taken hold in Australia and there are now major connectivity initiatives in every state. Additionally, Australia is in the process of developing a National Wildlife Corridor Policy. Drawing on the concept of ecological connectivity, proponents claim to be 'connecting people' while 'connecting landscapes'. This framing intends to create a positive narrative that engages and inspires a commitment to conservation by placing small-scale interventions in a larger landscape context. This framing demonstrates the power of a science-based concept to bridge normative and scientific domains and create a space for meaningful action at the local scale. The presentation will explore how these 'science narratives' have been mobilised to create a shared imperative for collaboration. As these narratives blur the boundaries between science and values in an effort to inspire collective action, they present an interesting opportunity to examine the diffusion and interplay between science and practice in collaborative conservation.