EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL NORTH CULTURAL BIASES ON WILDLIFE PRACTICES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
| Author(s) | Ethni Abiy | |
| Date Accessioned | 2025-07-13T02:19:30Z | |
| Date Available | 2025-07-13T02:19:30Z | |
| Publication Date | 2025-05 | |
| 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. | |
| Advisor | enter | |
| Program | enter | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/36341 | |
| Language | en_US | |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | |
| Title | EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL NORTH CULTURAL BIASES ON WILDLIFE PRACTICES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH | |
| Type | Thesis |