Conservation in troubled times
NIGE L DUDLE Y * 1 , 2 ,BRENT A. MITCHELL 2 , 3 ,KEN T H. RED F O RD 2 , 4 S UE S TO L T O N 1 , 2,HANNAH L. TIMMINS1 , 2 and JAMES E.M. WAT S O N 2 , 5
The return of a far-right incumbent following the recent US presidential election has caused unprecedented concern, with serious risks of shredding environmental and climate agreements, emboldening autocrats, weakening Ukrainian statehood and entrenching Israel–Palestine power differen- tials. The far right also runs several European states and attracts growing support elsewhere. Although Brazil no longer has a far-right president, Argentina has now elected one. The EU Green New Deal has been weakened by farmer backlash on agrochemicals, despite public support for con- trols. China’s economy is tottering, adding risks of the lead- ership moving against Taiwan as a diversionary tactic. Then there are the issues in Russia, the Middle East and a dozen other vicious wars. For many, the crisis is already here. Conspiracy theories flourish and politicians have learnt
the value of big lies (McIntyre, 2018). Devastating fires in California are used as an excuse to loosen planning controls, whilst distracting public attention by focusing on a few loo- ters; a common tactic (Solnit, 2009). With increasing rejec- tion of evidence-based science and a proportion of the global electorate influenced by disinformation, we can no longer rely on factual information to guide decision-makers (Applebaum, 2025). Nature conservation is increasingly under assault.
Protected areas could become less secure, with populist lea- ders enacting protected area downgrading, downsizing and degazettement (PADDD; Golden-Kroner et al., 2019)on a much larger scale. Agricultural pollution, and land-use and climate changes havemounting impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES, 2019), including in pro- tected areas. The race for critical rawmaterials is increasing mining pressure, including in the Arctic. Climate change de- niers are resurgent, focusing on rolling back net-zero com- mitments and attacking renewable energy, handsomely supported by fossil fuel interests. A growing number of companies are stepping back from environmental commit- ments, emboldened by complaisant governments. Global governance mechanisms such as the UN climate and bio- diversity conventions are weakened by resistance from a
few countries, and many states are failing to meet agreed commitments (Whitehorn et al. 2019). The next decade is going to be difficult for conservation,
possibly very difficult. Issues of climate change, environ- ment and biodiversity can be overwhelmed, even among sympathetic people, when other immediate crises seem more pressing. But we do not have the luxury of setting aside our concerns for the environment until a theoretical future when things are easier. So what can we do if govern- ments and many of the electorate lose interest in nature conservation? Rather than hand-wringing, we need to plan our re-
sponses as professionals and activists. Many talk about re- trenching to address local issues. This is worthwhile, but insufficient if support for environmental issues appears to be declining globally. ‘Appears to be’ is important though. Despite the challenges, support for conservation, restoration and protected areas remains high, often transcending polit- ical boundaries and creating ameans for conflict resolution. Concern about climate change is also growing, with many starting to feel its effects. What can we do? Firstly, we need to keep doing what we
have been doing, and find alternative ways of working if fi- nance dries up or jobs disappear. Ironically, the conserva- tion sector may be in a better position than most in such turbulent times. Because funding is often uncertain, many of us are already used to innovating, volunteering and work- ing across disciplines. Secondly, alongside striving to live a sustainable life—and leading by example—there are several important steps we can take:
*Corresponding author,
nigel@equilibriumresearch.com 1Equilibrium Research, Machynlleth, Powys, UK 2IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Gland, Switzerland 3Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA 4Archipelago Consulting, Portland, Maine, USA 5School of the Environment, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Build a bigger coalition of the willing Identify and work with people sympathetic to the conservation message. This means strengthening and where necessary repairing links with Indigenous peoples, local communities, sympa- thetic industry members, sub-national governments—any group that can deliver positive change. When building coa- litions, we should look outside our comfort zone, finding synergies and multiplier effects with others championing sustainability. These are the people who can help ensure that governments and industry do not slip environmentally damaging changes through while attention is directed else- where. Cities are often important sources of support. Studies have shown that in urban areas, combining nature-based and circular solutions for the built environment delivers the greatest environmental, economic and health benefits (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2024).
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited. Oryx, 2025, 59(1), 1–3 © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605325000286
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