Conference Agenda

Session
Plenary: Clive Spash: Co-opting Conservation: Biodiversity Economics & the Financialisation of Nature
Time:
Wednesday, 19/June/2024:
9:00am - 10:00am

Session Chair: John Piccolo
Location: Room B - Belmeloro Complex

Via Beniamino Andreatta, 8, 40126 Bologna

Session Abstract

Conservation in its traditional mode of operation has been criticised on various grounds and not least by the attempt to create a new conservation a decade ago that was spearheaded by The Nature Conservancy. In this presentation I revisit some of the counter arguments to the presumed pragmatism of adopting mainstream orthodox economic concepts, values and policies that are employed to align conservation with corporate interests. I then look at some of the recent developments in biodiversity economics (e.g. the Dasgupta Review) and the moves to reduce biodiversity to a financial capital asset. Along the way I note problems with the policy instruments being promoted (e.g. nature based solutions, bio-credits, biodiversity offsets) and the agenda of ‘green growth’. I highlight the larger social economic context within which conservation is operating and the vested interests that are working to co-opt its traditional regulatory approach and opposition to commensuration of values, monistic values, domination of Nature and denial of autonomous Nature.