CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY

Fortress conservation is based on the idea that protected wildlife areas must be separate from human habitation, and is the most common model used today. It was popularized by conservationists in the 19th century, most notably President Theodore Roosevelt. This model is rooted in consistently removing indigenous peoples from their homelands to create protected wildlife areas and national parks. While it is deeply flawed, it is unfortunately the only model we currently have, and makes consideration for the communities that are now living adjacent to protected areas of the utmost importance. Human beings and wildlife have always lived side by side and continue to do so today, often creating situations of human-wildlife conflict and incidents of poaching. Supporting communities is the most effective way to protect wildlife, and I am proud to have worked with some incredible grass roots organizations that champion these causes.