In Kenya, Samburu pastoralist Nakuru Lemiruni was brutally evicted from the land she calls home. Houses were burned, livestock stolen, men beaten and women raped.
Why? Because the Samburu people's land was to be sold to a conservation charity, using money donated for wildlife conservation.
Nakuru’s and the Samburu story is far from an isolated case.All over the world, ill thought out -or outright racist - conservation projects are making enemies by undermining the human rights of local people.
Too often, conservation is failing.
Biodiversity remains in decline. When conservation projects violate the rights of local people, potential friends, allies and helpers are made into enemies instead.
To be effective, conservation can – and must – work with local people, and do so on their terms.
We plan to carry the voices of people violated by conservation programmes to those with the power to make conservation more just - and more effective.
Just Conservation is a network of individuals dedicated to
promoting the conservation of our natural world in ways that ensure that the rights of those living in or around conservation areas are respected.
You can find us at
www.facebook.com/justconservation;
www.justconservation.org and http://twitter.com/JConservation
Nick Winer is an experienced development and conservation professional.
Zoe Young is a researcher, writer and film maker from the edges of ecology and power.
Jo Woodman works with Survival International and holds a PhD from Cambridge University.