In this module we focus on the role of Indigenous people in conservation and land management. Increasingly Indigenous conservation agendas are influencing the actions of global conservation agencies particularly in terms of the pursuit of diverse political, economic, social and cultural objectives under the mantle of conservation. Focussing on some of my own research (an ethnographic case study based in northwest Australia) we will get a sense of the challenges and opportunities facing Indigenous Australians (and small-scale societies generally) as a consequence of their role in conservation and land management.

After you have viewed the lecture and completed your reading  please answer the question below. We suggest you write 160-200 words for your forum post.

What do you understand by the phrase “environmentalism of the poor”? How does it assist us to understand Indigenous peoples’ diverse aspirations in the field of conservation?