Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation
In recent years, scholars have critiqued neoliberal conservation, asserting that neoliberal conservation policies tend to have ineffective outcomes and reinforce existing power relations. I build on this research by using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data from research in the Bellbi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Conservation & Society |
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| Online Access: | http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2018;volume=16;issue=3;spage=243;epage=256;aulast=Allen |
| _version_ | 1811253404559736832 |
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| author | Karen Allen |
| author_facet | Karen Allen |
| author_sort | Karen Allen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, scholars have critiqued neoliberal conservation, asserting that neoliberal conservation policies tend to have ineffective outcomes and reinforce existing power relations. I build on this research by using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data from research in the Bellbird Biological Corridor, Costa Rica. I demonstrate that only a small subset of values for sustainable land uses align with monetary exchange values for ecosystem services, and I suggest that this may result in neoliberal conservation policy in the region having a perverse impact on long-term sustainability. Mixed methods data show that across the study area landowners engage differently with neoliberal conservation mechanisms, and market fluency is one of the factors shaping this interaction. Results further show how policy that emphasises an exchange value view of environmental benefits reflects an over-simplification of values that can undermine ecological sustainability by promoting short-term values of “competitive land uses.” This research highlights that integrating ecosystem services into marketable goods renders neoliberal conservation policies inadequate, and subject to volatile market fluctuations. I suggest that conservation policy should reinforce multifaceted social values toward sustainable landscapes, rather than promote economic incentives that reduce environmental benefits to exchange value. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:50:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee9370c135cd40d0bbf59ddfce2c5be2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0972-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:50:25Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation & Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee9370c135cd40d0bbf59ddfce2c5be22022-12-22T03:24:26ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsConservation & Society0972-49232018-01-0116324325610.4103/cs.cs_17_68Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal ConservationKaren AllenIn recent years, scholars have critiqued neoliberal conservation, asserting that neoliberal conservation policies tend to have ineffective outcomes and reinforce existing power relations. I build on this research by using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data from research in the Bellbird Biological Corridor, Costa Rica. I demonstrate that only a small subset of values for sustainable land uses align with monetary exchange values for ecosystem services, and I suggest that this may result in neoliberal conservation policy in the region having a perverse impact on long-term sustainability. Mixed methods data show that across the study area landowners engage differently with neoliberal conservation mechanisms, and market fluency is one of the factors shaping this interaction. Results further show how policy that emphasises an exchange value view of environmental benefits reflects an over-simplification of values that can undermine ecological sustainability by promoting short-term values of “competitive land uses.” This research highlights that integrating ecosystem services into marketable goods renders neoliberal conservation policies inadequate, and subject to volatile market fluctuations. I suggest that conservation policy should reinforce multifaceted social values toward sustainable landscapes, rather than promote economic incentives that reduce environmental benefits to exchange value.http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2018;volume=16;issue=3;spage=243;epage=256;aulast=AllenConservation policyCosta Ricamarket-based mechanismsmixed-methodsnature tourismneoliberal conservationpayments for environmental services |
| spellingShingle | Karen Allen Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation Conservation & Society Conservation policy Costa Rica market-based mechanisms mixed-methods nature tourism neoliberal conservation payments for environmental services |
| title | Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation |
| title_full | Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation |
| title_short | Why Exchange Values are Not Environmental Values: Explaining the Problem with Neoliberal Conservation |
| title_sort | why exchange values are not environmental values explaining the problem with neoliberal conservation |
| topic | Conservation policy Costa Rica market-based mechanisms mixed-methods nature tourism neoliberal conservation payments for environmental services |
| url | http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2018;volume=16;issue=3;spage=243;epage=256;aulast=Allen |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karenallen whyexchangevaluesarenotenvironmentalvaluesexplainingtheproblemwithneoliberalconservation |