From an American sociologist.

• Author: Brechin, Steven R.
• Position: FROM READERS - Letter to the Editor

Thanks to the editors of World Watch for publishing "A Challenge to Conservationists." I expect that Mac Chapin's article will incite a number of negative reactions. As a result, I would like to offer some thoughts that focus on the big picture of international biodiversity conservation. While Chapin's article may seem heretical to many readers concerned with protecting the planet's shrinking biodiversity, his views touch on key debates forming a growing undercurrent within certain sectors of the conservation community. I would like to emphasize three main points that lie at the heart of protecting nature and improving human well-being: core goals, collaboration, and accountability.

Regarding core goals, it would seem obvious that conservation organizations should focus exclusively on the business of nature protection. And yet when operating in working landscapes, conservation practitioners confront other desired ends such as economic prosperity and social justice. In this context, the question arises of how best to protect nature and human dignity. This is particularly germane relative to the large scale eco-regional approaches espoused by the dominant conservation organizations.

With respect to collaboration, if integrated social and ecological goals best reflect the reality on the ground, it begs the question of how best to pursue them conjointly. The trends show conservation organizations that compete fiercely for funding, jealously guard exclusive "territories," and shy away from partnerships with...