EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL NORTH CULTURAL BIASES ON WILDLIFE PRACTICES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Date
2025-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
I explore the cultural biases embedded within Global North conservation
ideologies and their impact on wildlife practices in the Global South. The
advancement of wildlife conservation depends on understanding how historical
portrayals of Indigenous knowledge systems as “primitive” continues to impact how
global wildlife conservation is viewed by the Global North. Case studies from the
Pacific Northwest, the Amazon, and sub-Saharan Africa demonstrate the sustainability
and sophistication of Indigenous wildlife management practices, which are often
ignored or displaced by Western conservation models such as “Fortress
Conservation.” Through 11 interviews with professionals and students across diverse
countries, my research reveals ongoing tensions between Western scientific
frameworks and community-led approaches, including the displacement of Indigenous
peoples, inequitable conservation partnerships, and the criminalization of traditional
hunting. Historical legacies of colonialism and modern neocolonial structures—
particularly in economic and legal systems—continue to shape conservation
narratives, often placing blame on marginalized communities for environmental
degradation without addressing underlying socio-economic conditions. I argue for the
urgent need to decolonize conservation by integrating Indigenous knowledge,
addressing structural inequalities, and promoting more just, culturally respectful
approaches to wildlife management.