A cultural conscience for conservation

On 2 July 2015, the killing of a lion nicknamed "Cecil" prompted the largest global reaction in the history of wildlife conservation. In response to this, it is propitious to consider the ways in which this moment can be developed into a financial movement to transform the conservation of...

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Main Authors: Good, C, Burnham, D, Macdonald, D
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: MDPI 2017
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author Good, C
Burnham, D
Macdonald, D
author_facet Good, C
Burnham, D
Macdonald, D
author_sort Good, C
collection OXFORD
description On 2 July 2015, the killing of a lion nicknamed "Cecil" prompted the largest global reaction in the history of wildlife conservation. In response to this, it is propitious to consider the ways in which this moment can be developed into a financial movement to transform the conservation of species such as the lion that hold cultural significance and sentiment but whose numbers in the wild are dwindling dangerously. This provocative piece explores how a species royalty could be used effectively by drawing revenue from the heavy symbolic use of charismatic animals in affluent economies. This would, in turn, reduce strain on limited government funds in threatened animals' native homelands. Three potential areas of lucrative animal symbolism-fashion, sports mascots, and national animals-provide examples of the kind of revenue that could be created from a species royalty. These examples also demonstrate how this royalty could prove to be a desirable means by which both corporations and consumers could positively develop their desired selves while simultaneously contributing to a relevant and urgent cause. These examples intend to ignite a multi-disciplinary conversation on the global cultural economy's use of endangered species symbols. An overhaul in perspective and practice is needed because time is running out for much of the wildlife and their ecosystems that embellish products and embody anthropocentric business identities.
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spelling oxford-uuid:ab4db8ce-be07-4f9e-a89a-196e57c4f8012022-03-27T03:21:07ZA cultural conscience for conservationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:ab4db8ce-be07-4f9e-a89a-196e57c4f801EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordMDPI2017Good, CBurnham, DMacdonald, DOn 2 July 2015, the killing of a lion nicknamed "Cecil" prompted the largest global reaction in the history of wildlife conservation. In response to this, it is propitious to consider the ways in which this moment can be developed into a financial movement to transform the conservation of species such as the lion that hold cultural significance and sentiment but whose numbers in the wild are dwindling dangerously. This provocative piece explores how a species royalty could be used effectively by drawing revenue from the heavy symbolic use of charismatic animals in affluent economies. This would, in turn, reduce strain on limited government funds in threatened animals' native homelands. Three potential areas of lucrative animal symbolism-fashion, sports mascots, and national animals-provide examples of the kind of revenue that could be created from a species royalty. These examples also demonstrate how this royalty could prove to be a desirable means by which both corporations and consumers could positively develop their desired selves while simultaneously contributing to a relevant and urgent cause. These examples intend to ignite a multi-disciplinary conversation on the global cultural economy's use of endangered species symbols. An overhaul in perspective and practice is needed because time is running out for much of the wildlife and their ecosystems that embellish products and embody anthropocentric business identities.
spellingShingle Good, C
Burnham, D
Macdonald, D
A cultural conscience for conservation
title A cultural conscience for conservation
title_full A cultural conscience for conservation
title_fullStr A cultural conscience for conservation
title_full_unstemmed A cultural conscience for conservation
title_short A cultural conscience for conservation
title_sort cultural conscience for conservation
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