Diversity and the Conservation Movement

By and large, the conservation movement has been comprised of a narrow demographic, even though many of the communities ignored or bypassed by the movement demonstrate strong conservation values and care deeply about the environment, justice, and civil society. Working with communities of color, low-income communities, and other audiences that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation presents one of the most promising opportunities for achieving conservation success in the 21st century. It also presents an opportunity to push for greater equity and inclusion in the conservation movement and society as a whole. By promoting meaningful consultation, coordination, and shared leadership with a greater diversity of communities, we can strengthen and empower the entire conservation movement and build stronger communities. This section of the toolkit examines some of the barriers and challenges to diversifying the conservation movement and provides recommendations and examples about how to increase diversity and inclusion in our work.