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Why Conservation Needs Religion
Abstract
Conservationists have been criticized for failing to protect nature in the face of mounting threats including overexploitation, species loss, habitat destruction, and climate change. Resource managers and scientists have yet to fully engage a major segment of the global population in their outreach efforts to protect the environment: religious communities. The world's religions have been recognized as a surprising driver of support for conservation of biological diversity, and numerous examples demonstrate religious and conservation groups working together to achieve conservation outcomes. However, many conservation organizations do not effectively engage religious groups. When conservation organizations do engage religious groups, efforts to do so are often ad hoc and such partnerships may wane over time. A more systematic approach is needed that directly engages religious communities, develops effective partnerships, supports and sustains dialogue aimed at finding common ground despite potentially divergent worldviews, and establishes supporting mechanisms to maintain the partnerships that are developed. Effective partnerships between religious and conservation groups represent significant untapped potential which can directly support conservation outcomes; such partnerships are likely to become increasingly important with dwindling support for conservation.
... Salah satu tantangan utama yang dihadapi adalah birokrasi yang kompleks dan berlapis-lapis, yang sering kali memperlambat proses pelayanan dan mengurangi responsivitas terhadap kebutuhan masyarakat. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa prosedur yang berbelit-belit menjadi salah satu penghambat terbesar dalam mencapai pelayanan publik yang optimal (Gaus et al., 2017;Mcleod & Palmer, 2015). Permasalahan ini tidak hanya menyebabkan ketidakpuasan masyarakat, tetapi juga menimbulkan ketidakpercayaan terhadap institusi publik. ...
... Reformasi di Indonesia sering tidak terefleksi optimal dalam praktik karena kurangnya koordinasi, supervisi lemah, dan resistensi pelaksana di tingkat lokal. Banyak kebijakan yang dirancang baik Berbagai studi menyoroti permasalahan mendasar seperti keterbatasan sumber daya, birokrasi yang kompleks, serta korupsi yang masih marak (Gaus et al., 2017;Mcleod & Palmer, 2015;Mietzner, 2015;Turner et al., 2022). Oleh karena itu, penting untuk memahami bagaimana tren penelitian di bidang ini berkembang dan sejauh mana literatur ilmiah telah menyoroti berbagai isu tersebut. ...
... Studi Gaus et al. (2017) dan Mietzner (2015 menyoroti bahwa permasalahan mendasar seperti korupsi yang meluas dan birokrasi yang kompleks sering kali menghambat efektivitas pelayanan publik. Penelitian Mcleod & Palmer (2015) juga menggarisbawahi bahwa meskipun upaya reformasi telah dilakukan, keterbatasan dalam kapasitas sumber daya manusia dan finansial menjadi hambatan utama. Sementara, Turner et al. (2022) menambahkan bahwa pendekatan birokrasi tradisional yang masih dipertahankan di banyak instansi pemerintahan menciptakan hambatan signifikan dalam penerapan inovasi. ...
Pelayanan publik di Indonesia menghadapi berbagai tantangan, termasuk birokrasi yang kompleks, keterbatasan sumber daya, dan implementasi kebijakan yang sering kali tidak selaras dengan praktik lapangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengeksplorasi tren penelitian dalam pelayanan publik di Indonesia dan mengidentifikasi faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi keberhasilan serta hambatan dalam implementasi kebijakan dan inovasi. Metode yang digunakan adalah Systematic Literature Review (SLR) terhadap 30 publikasi terpilih dari jurnal nasional dan internasional yang bereputasi tinggi, dengan fokus pada tema inovasi pelayanan, kualitas pelayanan, implementasi kebijakan, dan peran kepemimpinan. Hasil menunjukkan adopsi teknologi digital semakin meningkat dan dianggap mampu memperbaiki transparansi dan efisiensi pelayanan publik, meskipun tantangan seperti keterbatasan sumber daya dan kerangka regulasi masih menghambat adopsi yang optimal. Selain itu, kualitas pelayanan yang baik dikaitkan dengan peningkatan kepuasan dan kepercayaan publik. Peran kepemimpinan transformasional terbukti menjadi faktor kunci dalam mendorong inovasi dan mengatasi resistensi birokrasi. Implikasinya adalah perlunya pendekatan yang mencakup integrasi teknologi, reformasi kebijakan yang adaptif, dan kepemimpinan yang visioner. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi landasan bagi studi-studi selanjutnya yang menekankan pada pendekatan multidisipliner untuk mencapai perbaikan berkelanjutan dalam pelayanan publik.
... Namun, peran agama dalam isu ekologi masih sering terpinggirkan dalam kebijakan lingkungan global. Padahal, jika digabungkan dengan prinsip-prinsip ekologi, ajaran agama dapat menjadi katalis bagi perubahan sosial yang lebih luas dalam menjaga keseimbangan ekosistem (McLeod & Palmer, 2015). Kolaborasi antara agama dan ekologi tidak hanya memperkuat landasan etis dalam pelestarian lingkungan, tetapi juga Moralitas Agama dalam Krisis Lingkungan... menciptakan solusi yang lebih inklusif dengan melibatkan komunitas keagamaan dalam aksi nyata (Barnhill & Gottlieb, 2001). ...
... Kita akan belajar bagaimana keyakinan spiritual dan pemahaman ilmiah dapat bersatu dalam upaya bersama untuk menjaga bumi, rumah kita bersama. Perjalanan ini bertujuan untuk menemukan bagaimana penggabungan agama dan sains dapat mengembangkan visi baru bagi masa depan planet yang lebih berkelanjutan dan adil bagi semua makhluk hidup (Mcleod, E., & Palmer, M., 2015). ...
Artikel ini mengeksplorasi hubungan antara agama dan ekologi dalam menghadapi krisis lingkungan global yang semakin mendesak. Dengan pendekatan reflektif dan analitis, artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa nilai-nilai agama, seperti tanggung jawab moral dan spiritual terhadap alam, dapat memainkan peran kunci dalam meningkatkan kesadaran ekologis dan memotivasi tindakan kolektif yang berkelanjutan. Berdasarkan kajian terhadap berbagai nilai dan tradisi agama, artikel ini mengidentifikasi tiga temuan utama: (1) ajaran agama dapat memperkuat rasa tanggung jawab antar generasi dalam pelestarian lingkungan; (2) integrasi nilai- nilai religius dengan prinsip-prinsip ekologi menciptakan pendekatan holistik yang lebih efektif dalam mitigasi krisis lingkungan; dan (3) kolaborasi lintas agama dan lintas disiplin menjadi katalis untuk menciptakan perubahan sosial yang signifikan. Kontribusi artikel ini adalah memperluas diskursus akademik tentang ekologi dengan menyoroti peran spiritualitas sebagai elemen penting dalam strategi keberlanjutan. Dengan menggabungkan perspektif agama dan sains, artikel ini menawarkan kerangka kerja yang dapat diadopsi untuk menghadapi tantangan lingkungan masa kini dan mendatang.
... Many religious doctrines function as a set of guiding principles that shape the moral and ethical outlook of individuals and communities (Shuaibu et al., 2018). Stewardship, as a concept and practice, finds itself in many religions, grounded in the notion that humans are caretakers of the Earth, charged with its protection (Mcleod and Palmer, 2015). In Islam, this internal relationship comes under the concept of stewardship, which calls for the maintenance of ecological balance and that no harm be caused to natural resources (Jenkins and Chapple, 2011). ...
... Across the world, local religious leaders and groups have contributed to the preservation of ecosystems and the promotion of planetary health. These include reducing wildlife trade and consumption and protecting forests through community engagement and policy advocacy (Mcleod and Palmer, 2015). In Vietnam, women play a primary role in poultry care and trade but were initially excluded from disease prevention efforts (e.g., avian influenza). ...
Human affinity for nature (“biophilia”) brings substantial health and ecological benefits and fosters environmental stewardship. However, close human-nature interactions can lead to conservation challenges and increase the risk of zoonoses. This paradox raises critical questions about how to balance public health, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development, and understanding these dilemmas presents opportunities for integrated approaches seeking synergies rather than trade-offs. This perspective explores the complexities of these intricate challenges by examining cases that demonstrated the interconnections between biophilia and zoonotic risks and their implications for conservation, public health, and local livelihood. Acknowledging the role of social and cultural perspectives in shaping human-nature interactions, this perspective highlights the importance of integrating traditional knowledge and practices and tailored risk communications into community-centered initiatives for zoonotic risk mitigation. The discussion proposes a responsible biophilia approach that embraces biodiversity conservation as a primary strategy for zoonosis prevention. By fostering responsible biophilia through a transdisciplinary and culturally relevant approach, we can align conservation, public health, and sustainable local livelihood, transforming biophilia-based human-nature interaction into opportunities for community health and resilience.
... Hinduism (15.2%), and Buddhism (6.6%) (Central Intelligence Agency 2023). This widespread religious affiliation suggests a potential for religions to contribute toward global environmental stewardship, leveraging their unique cultural, institutional, and spiritual resources to influence belief systems and human values (Hitzhusen and Tucker 2013;Mcleod and Palmer 2015). Recognizing this potential, there has been a growing scholarly interest in linking environmental consequences with religious beliefs and practices (IPCC 2022;Müller 2021). ...
Despite extensive research on the influence of religion on pro‐environmental behavior, little attention has been paid to the role of religious epics—that is, narratives that embody the core beliefs and moral values of religious traditions—as a mechanism for promoting such behavior. Using Hinduism as a case, this research seeks to bridge this gap by contrasting the orientations of idealism in the Ramayana with realism in the Mahabharata, offering a better understanding of how these distinct orientations in religious epics can shape pro‐environmental behavior. Utilizing belief congruence theory as a theoretical framework, this four‐study research examines altruism as a mediator and materialism as a moderator in understanding the role of religious epics in shaping pro‐environmental behavior. The findings suggest that the idealistic orientation of the Ramayana fosters stronger pro‐environmental behavior through heightened altruistic values, whereas the realistic orientation of the Mahabharata shows a less pronounced effect, which is further attenuated by materialism. These insights not only contribute to the theoretical discourse on consumer behavior, ethics, religion, and sustainability, but also offer practical implications for leveraging religious epics in fostering pro‐environmental behavior in a materialistic world.
... Public perceptions about the environment are influenced by a variety of socio-cultural phenomena (Bennett et al., 2017;Manfredo, 2008;Yeshey Ford et al., 2024). Religion, for instance, significantly influences public attitudes toward the environment and its management (Lowe et al., 2019;Mcleod & Palmer, 2015;Noss & Cuellar, 2001). However, religious beliefs at the level of the community in society are influenced by underlying factors such as social norms, laws and political situations (Yeshey Ford et al., 2024). ...
There is an increasing interest in researching urban invasion. When invasive species establish and spread in urban areas, their management becomes particularly challenging given the influence of public presence and perceptions. Cultural, religious, and moral values play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions toward management strategies for invasive species. Free‐ranging dogs (FRDs) and free‐ranging cats (FRCs) are among the urban invasive species that bring health, safety, and wildlife conservation concerns. However, given their close relationship with people controlling their populations is challenging.
We surveyed 500 residents of Karaj city in northern Iran to understand the behaviour of feeding FRDs and FRCs by people, as well as to uncover residents' acceptability of different control measures, focusing on culling FRDs and FRCs under different scenarios. We used generalized linear mixed models and cumulative link mixed models to address the issues of feeding FRDs and FRCs and acceptability of culling them respectively.
We found that more than half of the respondents fed FRDs and FRCs (63% and 59%, respectively), and among those who fed FRDs and FRCs, 74.8% and 78.2% respectively used food leftovers from home to feed these animals. Furthermore, around half and one‐third of respondents provided FRDs and FRCs outside their neighbourhoods, respectively. We also found that the religious belief of dogs being ritually impure (Najis) was a significant predictor for both feeding and culling FRDs. People who held the belief that dogs are Najis were more inclined toward culling and less willing to feed FRDs. Moreover, we found polarized and conflicting views concerning culling in higher‐intensity scenarios involving attacks on people and disease spread. On the contrary, in less‐intense scenarios such as attacks on wildlife and population control in urban areas, most respondents disagreed with culling.
In the end, we recommend (1) an improved waste management system for food residuals and leftovers that provide resources for FRDs and FRCs, (2) effective communication with pet‐owners to reduce feeding FRDs and FRCs and (3) bottom‐up de‐escalation of the conflict between polarized groups about culling FRDs and FRCs before it reaches to a destructive phase.
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... Studi ini menunjukkan bagaimana pesan-pesan tentang stewardship dapat meningkatkan kesadaran tentang perubahan iklim di kalangan individu religius. Artikel ini menekankan bahwa kepercayaan tentang stewardship dapat memotivasi tindakan prolingkungan 4 Mcleod, E., & Palmer, M. (2015). Why Conservation Needs Religion. ...
Artikel ini membahas hubungan antara agama dan ekologi, yang bertujuan untuk mengintegrasikan nilai spiritual dan ilmiah dalam mengatasi krisis lingkungan global. Refleksi ini menunjukkan bagaimana tradisi agama, dengan pandangan terhadap alam sebagai ciptaan suci, dapat mendukung praktik pelestarian lingkungan yang lebih efektif. Pendekatan holistik ini menekankan peran nilai-nilai agama seperti stewardship, keadilan antargenerasi, dan keterhubungan semua ciptaan dalam mendukung keberlanjutan. Artikel ini juga menyoroti contoh konkret dari berbagai tradisi agama yang telah berhasil menginspirasi aksi lingkungan.
The pelagic thresher shark Alopias pelagicus is an Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species primarily threatened by overfishing. Indonesia is the world's largest shark fishing nation, and in Alor Island, thresher sharks have been a primary target for small-scale fishing communities for decades, sustaining subsistence livelihoods and serving as a protein source. With thresher shark populations continuously declining, there is a need for conservation measures to reduce shark mortality from fishing, while also securing the well-being of coastal communities. This study presents results and lessons learnt from a multi-faceted effort to reduce communities' dependence on this Endangered shark species through a livelihood-based intervention complemented by collaborative species management and community outreach. Using a theory-based and statistical research design, we describe the approach taken in our intervention and its conservation outcomes. Total thresher shark catches were 91% lower among fishers who participated in our intervention compared to non-participants. Participating fishers also experienced increases in their income, in some cases by up to 525% relative to the income before the intervention. Occasional violations and challenges in the form of socio-political conflicts also occurred, yet these incidents acted as catalysts for regulatory change and reinforced stakeholder collaboration. This suggests overall positive outcomes and the potential for continued social change in shark conservation in the region over the long term. Our findings outline some generalizable lessons learnt for designing and implementing bottom-up livelihood-based interventions in other contexts.
Climate change is a global challenge that must be tackled with alacrity to achieve the sustainable development goals in Nigeria. This study highlights the need to enhance eco-theology for climate change education and sustainable development in Nigeria. This study vividly defines the concept of eco-theology. It poses the research question: "How can eco-theology enhance climate change education for sustainable development in Nigeria? The study focuses on two main objectives: First, to determine the contribution of eco-theology to sustainable development in Nigeria. Second, to identify the challenges eco-theology faces in promoting sustainable development in Nigeria. A qualitative research approach was employed, which involved analyzing data from secondary sources, including scholarly journals, books, and government records. The collected data was qualitatively analyzed based on emerging themes and patterns. The study reveals that eco-theology can be crucial in achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Consequently, the insights from this study are valuable for eco-theologians, researchers, government officials, and scholars. It concludes with a clarion call to all passionate about solving the problems initiated by climate change to dig deeper into research towards enhancing eco-theology for climate change education and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The philosophical proof of the existence of God has been a central topic of debate throughout history, with various arguments put forth to support the existence of a higher being. This argument, such as the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments, aims to demonstrate that the existence of God can be logically inferred from the nature of the universe and human experience. The implications of these philosophical proofs for Christian faith and practice are profound. For Christians, the philosophical proof of God’s existence can strengthen their faith by providing rational justification for their beliefs. It can also deepen their understanding of God’s nature and attributes, leading to a more profound relationship with the divine. Additionally, these proofs can guide moral and ethical decision-making, as they provide a foundation for understanding the source of objective moral and ethical values. The philosophical proof of God’s existence can inspire believers to live out their faith more authentically and passionately. It can also foster a sense of awe and wonder at the complexity and beauty of the universe, leading to a deeper appreciation of God’s creation. Overall, the philosophical proof of the existence of God has the potential to enrich and enliven Christian faith and practice, offering believers a firm intellectual foundation for their spiritual journey.
A prominent scientist and scholar documents and explains the thoughts, actions, and legacies of spiritual ecology’s pioneers from ancient times to the present, demonstrating how the movement may offer the last chance to restore a healthy relationship between humankind and nature.
Roy Rappaport argues that religion is central to the continuing evolution of life, although it has been been displaced from its original position of intellectual authority by the rise of modern science. His book, which could be construed as in some degree religious as well as about religion, insists that religion can and must be reconciled with science. Combining adaptive and cognitive approaches to the study of humankind, he mounts a comprehensive analysis of religion's evolutionary significance, seeing it as co-extensive with the invention of language and hence of culture as we know it. At the same time he assembles the fullest study yet of religion's main component, ritual, which constructs the conceptions which we take to be religious and has been central in the making of humanity's adaptation. The text amounts to a manual for effective ritual, illustrated by examples drawn from anthropology, history, philosophy, comparative religion, and elsewhere.
Medicine Across Cultures: The History and Practice of Medicine in Non-Western Cultures consists of 19 essays dealing with the medical knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Indian, Egyptian, and Tibetan medicine, the book includes essays on comparing Chinese and western medicine and religion and medicine. The essays address the connections between medicine and culture and relate the medical practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay is well illustrated and contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both the history of medicine and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.
Nature Across Cultures: Views of Nature and the Environment in Non-Western Cultures consists of about 25 essays dealing with the environmental knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside of the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Indian, Thai, and Andean views of nature and the environment, among others, the book includes essays on Environmentalism and Images of the Other, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Worldviews and Ecology, Rethinking the Western/non-Western Divide, and Landscape, Nature, and Culture. The essays address the connections between nature and culture and relate the environmental practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both environmental history and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.
It is being increasingly recognised that cultural and biological diversity are deeply linked and that conservation programmes should take into account the ethical, cultural and spiritual values of nature. With contributions from a range of scholars, practitioners and spiritual leaders from around the world, this book provides new insights into biocultural diversity conservation. It explores sacred landscapes, sites, plants and animals from around the world to demonstrate the links between nature conservation and spiritual beliefs and traditions. Key conceptual topics are connected to case studies, as well as modern and ancient spiritual insights, guiding the reader through the various issues from fundamental theory and beliefs to practical applications. It looks forward to the biocultural agenda, providing guidelines for future research and practice and offering suggestions for improved integration of these values into policy, planning and management.
A powerful pro-environmental coalition may be emerging worldwide as religious people and institutions begin to partner with advocates of sustainable development. The past decade saw a small but growing number of meetings, advocacy initiatives, educational programs, and lobbying efforts by the two communities, who long had kept each other at arm's length. The two groups share an appreciation for nature that surpasses its economic value. They also have complementary strenghts. Advocates of sustainability are well grounded in science, while religious traditions have a moral authority and broad societal presence that shapes worldviews and lifestyles globally. Though misperceptions and misunderstandings between the two communities persist, engagement is growing, from the efforts of Buddhist monks to stop deforestation in Thailand to the lobbying work of the World Council of Churches to mitigate climate change. Religions are also seeking to "green" adherents' consumption habits, or advocate reduced consumption as a step toward simpler, freer lives. To further collaboration, religious people and institutions would do well to leverage their influence in favor of sustainability. Environmentalists would gain by appealing to the public at an emotional/spiritual level. With these steps, a new ethics encompassing humans, the divine, and nature can help usher in a just and sustainable civilization.
The Faith of Scientists is an anthology of writings by twenty-one legendary scientists, from the dawn of the Scientific Revolution to the frontiers of science today, about their faith, their views about God, and the place religion holds--or doesn't--in their lives in light of their commitment to science. This is the first book to bring together so many world-renowned figures of Western science and present them in their own words, offering an intimate window into their private and public reflections on science and faith. Leading religion scholar Nancy Frankenberry draws from diaries, personal letters, speeches, essays, and interviews, and reveals that the faith of scientists can take many different forms, whether religious or secular, supernatural or naturalistic, conventional or unorthodox. These eloquent writings reflect a spectrum of views from diverse areas of scientific inquiry. Represented here are some of the most influential and colossal personalities in the history of science, from the founders of science such as Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Francis Bacon, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Albert Einstein, to modern-day scientists like Carl Sagan, Stephen Jay Gould, Jane Goodall, Freeman Dyson, Stephen Hawking, Edward O. Wilson, and Ursula Goodenough. Frankenberry provides a general introduction as well as concise introductions to each chapter that place these writings in context and suggest further reading from the latest scholarship.
Americans support science as well as religion-but these two things are often at odds. In the wake of recent controversies about teaching intelligent design and the ethics of embryonic-stem- cell research, greater understanding between scientists and the general religious public is critical. What is needed is a balanced assessment of the middle ground that can exist between science and religion. Science vs. Religion: What Do Scientists Really Think? is the definitive statement on this timely, politically charged subject. After thousands of hours spent talking to the nation's leading scientists, Elaine Howard Ecklund argues that the American public has widespread misconceptions about scientists' views of religion. Few scientists are committed secularists. Only a small minority actively reject and work against religion. And many are themselves religious. The majority are whom she calls spiritual pioneers, who desire to link their spirituality with a greater mission for the work they do as scientists. In the current climate, even scientists who are not religious recognize that they must engage with religion as they are pressed by their students to respond to faith in the classroom-what Ecklund calls environmental push. Based on a survey and interviews with scientists at more than 20 elite U.S. universities, Ecklund's book argues that other scientists must step up to the table of dialogue and that American believers must embrace science again. Both science and religion are at stake if any less is done.