Dominique Ghijselinck’s Post

I'm attending the Ecosystem Services Partnership Conference, with the theme "One Planet, One Health" and picking up some valuable insights! Today I had the opportunity to give a presentation on relational values of nature and how this notion may contribute to conservation decision-making and practice. Key takeaways: - Relational values of nature are a third axiological category, distinguishable from instrumental and intrinsic values. - Relational values can also be seen as part of an epistemological reframing of nature valuation that seeks to widen the scope for a better understanding of the different ways nature is significant to people. In the end, this meaning is about being more socially inclusive in conservation decision-making processes. - Relational values represent a two-way reciprocal relationship with nature. Such conceptualisation underscores how relational values are also about a sense of responsibility, care and respect for the sake of the wellbeing of the other party in the relationship, in this case nature and nonhuman life. This is about the inclusion of nonhuman nature and about how to move beyond the different ways in which nature contributes to 'our' wellbeing. - I explained how Rights of Nature legislation in New Zealand underscored the need for awareness about how relational values and ‘rights for nature’ are conceptualised and applied. The key takeaway here is that the conceptualisation of relational values in terms of furthering social justice is better not summarily equated with ecological justice, which is concerned with other species independent of their instrumental value for humans. - The bottom line is that conservationists should dare venture into ethics when dealing with conservation planning and policy. In emphasising the intrinsic side of a meaningful relationship with nature, relational values may provide a potential language that helps in this. It could extend our interests in not only what nature contributes to people but also in what our obligations towards nature are. If you want to know more about this, check out the following publication in the Journal for Nature Conservation: https://lnkd.in/eUd_X6Dp

"Ecosystem services" emerged as a metaphor to demonstrate humanity’s dependence on the natural environment and is increasingly applied to frame human-nature relationships in conservation science, policy and practice. Dr. Kate Flood's final paper from her doctoral research explores what happens when the concept meets reality, in three contexts of ecosystem management in Ireland. https://lnkd.in/gSKBu7qZ Kate's work argues for an ecosystems services agenda that addresses equity "in all its dimensions, across time and space, historic and intergenerational, and for humans and nonhumans alike". You can also find a plain language summary of the article here: https://lnkd.in/gfuf6iE6 #ecosystems #equity #naturalcapital #ireland #agriculture #environment

As we celebrate World Environment Day today, find out more about the environmental journey of Ting Wai Kit (Social Sciences + NUSC [USP] '24) and discover how he drives tangible change and promotes practical conservation efforts. #NationalUniversityofSingapore #HonoursCollege #NUSCollege

🌱 New Paper Alert! 🌍 We are excited to share “Let’s Go to the Land Instead: Indigenous Perspectives on Biodiversity and the Possibilities of Regenerative Capital” by Diane-laure Arjaliès (Western University) and Subhabrata Bobby Banerjee (City St George's, University of London) ✍️. This research highlights the urgent need to rethink the way we value and interact with the land. By exploring Indigenous worldviews, the authors propose a model of Two-Eyed Seeing—bringing together Indigenous and Western perspectives to foster new ways of conservation and sustainable development 🌿. 🔑 Key Insights: • Indigenous communities hold vital knowledge on maintaining ecosystems, viewing the land as a living relative deserving of care and stewardship, rather than something to be exploited for profit🌾. • The Conservation Impact Bond (CIB) developed with the Deshkan Ziibiing (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) blends both Indigenous and Western knowledge to restore ecosystems through a relational approach. • The study proposes a shift from extractive to regenerative capital—mobilizing resources for collective benefit, while promoting Indigenous resurgence and land regeneration. This research serves as a call to action: to address the global crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, we must embrace alternative models that promote harmony between people and the land. 🌳 🔗 Learn how Two-Eyed Seeing can reshape the future of conservation and capital investment by reading the full article: https://lnkd.in/eeECfDbv #IndigenousKnowledge #Biodiversity #RegenerativeCapital #TwoEyedSeeing #JMSResearch #LandRegeneration #JMS #JMS_Journal #Wiley

Evidence informed design and theories of change in IPLC led conservation initiatives. I'm excited to share that I’m currently working on a funding proposal for the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. Recently, I attended a valuable training on “Evidence synthesis and using evidence for future programming” by the European Union, Trust Fund, and C4ED, which reinforced the importance of using systematic reviews in project design and developing intervention theories of change. For my current assignment, two systematic analyses have been particularly instructive: 1. Dawson et al. (2021) on the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation. It highlights the power of locally controlled efforts in achieving positive conservation outcomes. The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation. Ecology and Society 26 (3):19. https://lnkd.in/eHHZk43a 2. Hajjar et al. (2021), offering a global analysis of community forests, underscores both the opportunities and trade-offs in environmental and socio-economic outcomes. A global analysis of the social and environmental outcomes of community forests. Nat Sustain 4, 216–224 (2021). https://lnkd.in/ek4B7CXQ I encourage colleagues working in this area to take a look at their insights. These papers encourage us to critically examine the assumptions behind the changes our interventions aim to create and to identify the potential pathways or challenges we need to consider when designing new programs. Let’s continue to build evidence-informed and inclusive approaches to global conservation! 🌱 #Biodiversity #Conservation #SystematicReviews #EvidenceBased #IndigenousPeoples #CommunityForests #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #SustainableDevelopment #GEF#GBFF#ProjectDesign #TheoriesOfChange#FAO#ACED&H ConsultantsLtd

🎉 Thrilled to announce the publication of my first single-author paper, a significant milestone in my academic journey! What makes this moment even more special is achieving it two months before completing my second year as a PhD candidate. In this paper, I tackle the ethical challenges of biodiversity offsetting, a widely debated conservation tool. Using a compensatory theory framework, I argue that biodiversity offsetting overlooks the irreplaceable personal, emotional, cultural, and religious attachment people have to specific places – an aspect that cannot be fully compensated. As such, I contend that biodiversity offsetting results in under-compensation, with significant ethical and policy implications. A huge thank you to my supervisor and mentor, Peter Seele, for his invaluable support and friendly review throughout this process and whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping this work! You can read the full article in open access here: https://lnkd.in/e53NCtJJ Excited for what’s ahead as I continue developing my research! #phdjourney #research #publication #biodiversity #academicmilestone #ethics #environmentalethics

Anthropocentrism and biocentrism are two contrasting philosophical perspectives on the value of nature and the environment: - Anthropocentrism: This is a human-centered worldview. It considers humans as the most significant entities in the universe and views nature primarily in terms of its utility for human needs. From this perspective, environmental protection is important only insofar as it benefits human health, economic growth, or quality of life. For example, forests should be preserved because they provide oxygen, resources, and recreation for people. Anthropocentrism often justifies environmental exploitation if it serves human interests, making it a common underlying philosophy in industrial development and resource extraction. -Biocentrism: This is a life-centered worldview. It places intrinsic value on all living beings, regardless of their usefulness to humans. From a biocentric perspective, all forms of life—plants, animals, ecosystems—have inherent worth and deserve moral consideration and protection. Environmental protection is seen as important in itself, not just for human benefit. Biocentrism calls for respect for all life forms and argues for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, advocating for minimal human impact on the natural world. To which philosophy do you adopt?

🌍 Certificate of Completion 🌿 Excited to share that I’ve successfully completed the short course on Key Essentials: The Global Biodiversity Framework, Sustainable Development, and the Law, offered by the University of Cambridge’s Bennett Institute for Public Policy and Lucy Cavendish College. This course has deepened my understanding of critical global biodiversity policies, frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and their integration with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key takeaways include: Insight into the Kunming-Montreal Framework and its ambitious global biodiversity targets, including Target 1 (effective conservation and management of at least 30% of the world's land, inland waters, coastal areas, and oceans) and Target 2 (restoration of at least 30% of degraded ecosystems globally). Learning from the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS), ensuring equitable sharing of genetic resources. Understanding how legal frameworks like these support biodiversity conservation while promoting sustainable development. Grateful to the instructors and colleagues who made this an enlightening experience! Looking forward to applying this knowledge toward meaningful environmental action and advocacy. 🌱💡 Super thankful to be able to grab this opportunity out of 3000+ applicants all over the world 🌎 #SustainableDevelopment #GlobalBiodiversity #KunmingMontrealFramework #NagoyaProtocol #ClimateAction #EnvironmentalJustice #UniversityofCambridge #GYBN

The Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) is more and more included in sustainability reports of corporates, cities, countries as a systematic benchmark for efforts on environmental, economic, and social wellbeing. See how researchers in industrial ecology view SDGs through the lense of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). See bit.ly/JIE-lcsa-for-sdgs #industrial_ecology #SDGs #LCSA #LCA