Bertarelli Summer2024 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 68
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We like to say it’s about going deep, going wide, and
going long. Let’s break each of those pillars down:
RE W I L D I NG
Go long: It’s not enough for a third, neutral party to
parachute in and try and get everybody together and
make a decision. That’s not going to work. Ultimately,
conservation, culture, and communities—they’re all in
this for the long term. If they can’t thrive, if they can’t
have stability and security for the long term, then nothing we do will last.
Go deep: Going deep is about reconciling that deeprooted, us-versus-them identity conflict that we see so
much of in society.
Go wide: We see that in conservation and wildlife conflicts, these conflicts are really a microcosm of what’s
going on in the wider society. So we can use that element of conservation or the conflict over wildlife as
an entry point to start to rebuild the fabric of the society. Ultimately, if society can function, then people and
nature can thrive.
Conservation conflict transformation is really a relationship-focused mode of problem solving and action.
We need to recognize that people—scientists included—
make decisions based on emotions. If we have a relationship-focused process, then we can start to reconcile
deep-rooted conflicts and solve problems more productively, with genuine trust and collaboration and equality.
FROM SAFETY TO CONSERVATION Conflict resolution efforts can be aided by keeping in mind what people
need to feel secure—after all, when people feel secure, they’ll be more willing to work together for a resolution.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs provides a simple structure of concepts to keep in mind, through five buckets of needs:
self-actualization, self-esteem, physiological needs, safety, and community.
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J UL EE A S H ME A D / S H UT TER STO CK
CO M M UNIC AT IO N
