Thread by @StephenCorrySvl

As it stands, #Conservation is run in Africa around white tourism, in a romanticised "empty wilderness" that has never existed. It has become more about making money than enacting policies good for people and planet.

No ifs, no buts – it has to change. Here's how 👇

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1. Conservation orgs have to recognise their history.

The belief in "empty wilderness" is a historic, dangerous myth that has seen millions of #Indigenous people thrown off their lands to make way for tourist initiatives.

alternet.org/2017/01/our-mo…

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2. Conservationists must listen to #Indigenous peoples.

All the evidence is there – Indigenous peoples are the best defenders of the planet. To ignore them is nothing short of racism, and it is detrimental to us all.

theelephant.info/culture/2019/0…

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3. Conservation orgs must stop operating without the agreement of Indigenous land owners.

To push ahead with #NewDealForNature and the like is completely illegitimate. It’s based on the idea that Indigenous consent is a secondary concern.

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counterpunch.org/2020/02/24/new…

4. Conservationists must ditch the Western-centric model.

The white saviour mentality has got to stop. Perpetuating the idea that only Westerners can save the planet (even though historically we're the ones that are destroying it!) is racist, and fails us all.

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5. Throw big business out of conservation.

Conservation orgs have an addiction to selling their souls to the very same big businesses that are destroying the planet. But when their boards are stuffed with corporate executives, is it a surprise?

theguardian.com/environment/20…

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6. #DecolonizeConservation

Conservation's projects are not being run with a respect for rights, but instead with opression and violence.

Indigenous people are dying at the hands of park guards simply because they exist. It cannot continue.

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medium.com/@survivalinter…