DISCUSS: Flourishing Diversity & The Importance of Nonhuman Cultures in Conservation: Indigenous and Scientific Perspectives

Nonhuman species culture is typically excluded from discussions about biocultural diversity. These discussions focus on human lifeways and belief systems and how these interact with species and ecosystems to support flourishing biodiversity. Yet many indigenous cultures around the world assign agency and culture to nonhuman species and place great importance on the diversity of such cultures. Likewise, the importance of ‘diversity’ of nonhuman species cultures can be overlooked in behavioural ecology and population biology, in favour of focusing on the significance of those cultures deemed more ‘human-like’ or interesting to humans. Through pre-recorded presentations and facilitated discussion, this session will present perspectives from ecological and indigenous science to showcase the importance of supporting a diversity of nonhuman species’ cultures to flourish. It will draw out learnings to highlight implications for conservation.