Exploring Learning and Action in Equitable Conservation

“The time for learning is over, it is time for action.”

The Role of Learning in Increasing Equitable Outcomes in Conservation

One sentence “The time for learning is over, it is time for action” serves as the inspiration for this research study and blog.

After seeing a guest speaker at the University of Wisconsin- River Falls, one of my friends shared his excitement about the event and the call-to-action it inspired. The presentation focused on the role of DEIJ in the recruitment and retention of college students, who are majoring in conservation and natural resource management. Energized, my friend conveyed this quote from the speaker “The time for learning is over, it is time for action”. Second-hand, I bristled at this phrase and found myself negatively responding. I felt disrespected and indignant. A couple of years into my personal and professional equity journey, I was proud of what I had uncovered for myself. Through assessments, trainings, podcasts, and books, so many things that had been unseen were now visible. I had learned so much and felt reassured that I was already taking action.

In addition to feeling frustrated, my response inspired curiosity. Why did I respond that way? Would others respond the same way? How was my learning journey translating into real world, tangible conservation outcomes that elevated communities and perspective long silenced? Was being pre-occupied with learning distracting me from other action? [Many of my friends, family, and unsuspecting tour guides have been on the other end of my strings of questions! ] This experience and these probes serve as the foundation for this independent research blog.

Why should someone read this blog and what can be expected? I am gearing this independent research towards individuals, who might be swirling with similar thoughts and inquiries. The results of this research may also support managers, learning officers, and organizational leaders, who are responsible for supporting equitable conservation outcomes. There is a large community of conservation practitioners that are spending hours and hours of personal and professional time thinking about DEIJ. This blog will also provide a platform to share some of their experiences, lessons learned, successes, and challenges.

Which types of posts do I write? This is a qualitative social-science research blog and the posts will be organized similarly to a formal research paper. Within this structure, I will work to tell stories (with permission of the interviewees) and keep the writing more casual and approachable. Science science research became an interest of mine as a graduate student at the University of Minnesota (2012-2018), where I interviewed farmers in south-central Minnesota (Here’s my thesis!). I am excited to use these foundational skills to explore questions around equity and I hope to contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.