Topic description / abstract:

While there is general consensus about a knowledge-action gap in ecology and conservation, its causes are hotly-debated. One perspective is that knowledge flows unidirectionally, from scientist to practitioner, and the gap is mainly a consequence of inadequacies in the generation, communication and use of scientific knowledge. The other perspective is that knowledge flows bi-directionally between scientist and practitioner, and the gap reflects a lack of interactions between scientist and practitioner. Independent of this debate, knowledge, whether produced by scientists or jointly by scientists and practitioners, is believed to inform practice in different ways, including instrumentally, conceptually and symbolically. In this project, I provide empirical grist to these theoretical mills based on oral histories of Indian conservation biologists about their experiences in building knowledge for conservation action and policy.

India presents a unique case in the global debate on the science-conservation gap. While Conservation Biology in India is largely based upon ideas and theories from the west (what one might call Michael Soulé’s Conservation Biology), India’s historical resistance to foreign scientists working within its borders has meant that its conservation biology community consists entirely of Indians, in contrast to other countries of the global south, where Conservation Biology is dominated by scientists from the global north. Indian conservation scientists, while engaging with western Conservation Biology, have had their ears closer to the ground, questioned Conservation Biology’s relevance and adopted a much more bottom-up approach in their work. The Indian conservation science community is, therefore, likely to contain a wealth of unique experiences and perspectives about science’s role in conservation. 

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