he
familiar theme of achieving conservation through the sustainable use of the
earth’s resources weaves a thread through most of the stories we publish. IWMC
values the traditions and cultures of people and understands that there is no
solution to wildlife conservation that excludes local people.
The world has entered the information age. Information empowers people to
assume control of their destiny and to understand the nature of those who seek
to exploit, or impose their values on communities in every corner of the world.
The wildlife success stories IWMC – World Conservation Trust has observed
throughout the world, indicate clearly that local initiatives conferring social
and economic value on resident wildlife, holds the key to conservation in the 21st
century.
Stories in this month’s newsletter show how some governments and many
environmental NGOs seek to concentrate power over wildlife decision making at
the highest bureaucratic and political levels. In many cases this is a direct
attempt to exclude the participation of local people in decisions that affect
wildlife. In some cases, concentration of power among the few at higher levels,
facilitates the control and influence peddling characteristic of the multi-
national animal rights groups. In others, it may reflect a contrast of values
with the developed world, or at worst, a perception that local cultures are
"primitive", "backwards" and a detriment to their own well-
being.
All approaches to wildlife management containing these elements have no place
in the information age. Rather that focusing power, major bodies such as the UN
and its many conventions, committees and scientific bodies should be working
hard, with NGOs, to push knowledge and decision- making power over wildlife down
to the local level, where it would have the greatest potential benefit to
wildlife conservation.
The emerging information age will eventually re- define the roles of
monolithic institutions that are out of step with local cultures and needs. They
should be serving their clients – people and wildlife – rather than powerful
governments and NGOs. At the same time, the corporate hegemony of money hungry,
multi- national NGOs must end to empower local people. The world needs to get
back to the basics of conservation. The first step in that direction for all
organizations, is a fundamental shift in conservation ideology. This shift would
move the local peoples and traditional cultures of the world from the problem,
to the solution side of the wildlife conservation equation.
The International Whaling Commission meetings in London, would be a great
place to start. 
