Abstract: The spectrum of potential conservation philosophies contains the ideals of preservationists towards one end and rewilding at the other. A long-term antagonism between these two schools will almost certainly be to the detriment of non-human nature. This article suggests conservation management ‘exit strategies’ that would separate the impacts of active conservation from ecological process such as evolution, without undermining the short-term focus on preserving threatened species. It also explores the case for a more dynamic natural world, in particular by looking at what the field of ecological ethics can tell us.
Download article as PDF: ECOS 36-2-28 Does conservation need an exit strategy_