Beyond conditional visibility: operationalizing epistemic justice in conservation science
Abstract
Summary Conservation science is constrained by conditional visibility, an epistemic trap whereby recognition depends on alignment with Global North priorities. This phenomenon represents the operational intersection of the Matthew and Matilda effects, compounded by the feminization of poverty in the Global South. By marginalizing Indigenous and local knowledge, this structural filter severs global mandates from grounded ecological realities, leading to maladaptive conservation interventions. To bridge this gap, we propose specific interventions targeting the financial, administrative and evaluative pillars of the discipline. By matching structural reform with internal empowerment, we move beyond rhetoric to ensure effective planetary stewardship.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
Conservation
Biodiversity
and Resource Management
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Environmental Conservation
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Volume
- 53
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 57–61
- Publication date
- 9 March 2026
- Language
- EN