The Umcomasi Reserve

In this episode, Michael and Stefan speak with Dan Brockington, Professor and director of the Sheffield Institute for International Development at the University of Sheffield. They talk to Dan about his important work on protected areas, and in particular two books he has written on the subject: Fortress Conservation: The Preservation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania, and Nature Unbound: Conservation, Capitalism and the Future of Protected Areas. They discuss the distinction between reality and (sometimes true) myths that help to sustain nature reserves through their representation, and help to provide “brand value” for conservation. Relatedly, they discussed the relationships between conservation, capitalism, and celebrity.

Dan’s website: https://danbrockington.com/

References:

Brockington, D. 2002. Fortress Conservation: The Preservation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania. Indiana University Press.

Brockington, D., Duffy, R., and Igoe, J. 2008. Nature Unbound: Conservation, Capitalism and the Future of Protected Areas. Routledge.

Brockington, D. 2009. Celebrity and the Environment: Fame, Wealth and Power in Conservation. Bloomsbury Publishing.