Battling Toxic Conservation Culture
I often notice discussions among conservationists on social media concerning discrimination within conservation work, lack of pay, unrealistic expectations for living conditions, and more. It’s troubling to see these conversations becoming so prevalent as it suggests these issues are affecting more people. But at the same time, there’s a voice in my head saying FINALLY! It’s about time we talk about these topics and bring light to what’s going on so we can work to make a change.
For young professionals, it can be comforting knowing that others are experiencing similar struggles, and that’s one of the reasons I think sharing this kind of information is extremely valuable. That’s why this article is going to outline some of the prevalent issues occurring within the industry and how we can more actively fight against these “industry norms.”
Unrealistic Expectations for Conservationists
There is a lot of martyrdom occurring within the field. An unspoken shame is projected onto those who have or desire a work-life balance. Many take pride in working themselves into the ground, taking no days off, living in less than ideal conditions, and making major life sacrifices in the name of their mission. While this can be a noble thing when taken on personally, it has become an expectation that has created a toxic culture within the field. While potentially unintentional, it has created the assumption that you must give up many other parts of your life to be seen as revered and dedicated to your work.
Unfortunately, this can bring on unhealthy habits, mental health issues, and burnout. These are not only harmful to the individual, but they actively oppose the original mission of working hard for a goal. Without emphasizing balance, it will be challenging for conservationists to remain motivated and positive in their work.
This starts by removing shame around lifestyle. Instead of jumping to thoughts like “why would this person live in such a nice house when they’re raising funds to start a sanctuary/rescue an animal/etc.” it’s critical that we separate work and personal life. All this takes is acknowledging that the effort put into one’s home and personal life does not take away from the passion that fuels the work life. Being wholly committed to a cause does not remove the option of also being committed to a family, hobbies, or relationship.
Unpaid and Underpaid Conservation Work
On the same note comes the unfair compensation (or lack thereof) of professionals in the field. It has become increasingly “normal” for professionals to be underpaid, offered no compensation, or required to pay to get experience. While this is not always exclusive to conservation work, it is a widespread problem within the industry.
Graphic taken from a larger graphic made by: Anna N Osiecka, Susanna Quer, Aleksandra Wróbel, Katarzyna Osiecka-Brzeska
With fewer paid positions, many young professionals are turning to paying organizations to get work experience. Unfortunately, this rarely leads to employment since many roles in the industry are being done in an unpaid capacity. The major problem that comes from this is that the only people who can get experience and begin a career in conservation work are those who can afford to. This closes the door for people who have the passion and drive but simply do not have the resources to pay for experience or work without compensation.
Graphic taken from a larger graphic made by: Anna N Osiecka, Susanna Quer, Aleksandra Wróbel, Katarzyna Osiecka-Brzeska
The other side of this coin is the fact that many organizations do not have the funds to pay or rely on funds from volunteers to care for their animals. It’s important to acknowledge that it isn’t coming from a malicious place; however, it has had detrimental impacts on the industry. If this continues to stay as is, fewer young people will have the resources to get involved in the field. As a result, we may see fewer organizations forming and a drop-off in people doing important projects within conservation. This could further impact at-risk species, climate change, and worldwide concerns like deforestation. With nobody to take on these fights, how will we move forward?
This has been seen as acceptable for so long because of the notion that conservationists shouldn’t be in the field for money; they should be in it because they care and want to create change. I can confidently say that nobody goes into conservation work because they’re motivated by money. With that said, there’s a considerable difference between being money motivated and needing a fair wage to survive and live a comfortable life. Money is not a villain that controls cause in this case; it’s a necessity regardless of cause.
Conservationists should not have to scrape up every last penny to survive with the bare minimum. Every sector of the field should be offering fair wages that allow workers to live the lifestyle they desire for themselves and their families. And in turn, there will be more interest in the field, which will bring more money in for jobs and eventual projects.
Discrimination in Conservation
It’s not unique to conservation work for discrimination to occur in the workplace. Unfortunately, this is widespread and can come from peers and supervisors. The double standard still very much exists regarding how a woman or non-binary person can present themselves versus how a man can present themselves. This can majorly affect a qualified candidate’s ability to get a job in the field and can be further exacerbated by sexual orientation and racial discrimination, taking the emphasis off of individual merit.
A great example here is the Native Americans, who have proudly and effectively conserved land in the United States for so long. They not only deserve to be involved in conservation projects, but they also deserve recognition for their contributions and methods used to keep the environment healthy and thriving. Without giving proper credit where it’s due, we may be cutting out those who are vital in conserving our planet and wildlife.
Many examples similar to this are noteworthy because of the underlying lack of trust that can be projected onto certain groups. The minority group is forever changing depending on the region of the world the work is being done; however, it’s stunting efforts globally and creating a hostile and challenging work environment in many cases.
When it comes to these issues, changing the norm can feel uncomfortable. Especially with something as deep-seated as gendered or racial discrimination; however, we’ll never get to a point where things are different without dealing with what’s uncomfortable. And the unfortunate truth is, we will never be able to accomplish all we need to until we start working together. As long as there’s separation and discrimination based on gender or race, it will be almost impossible to achieve what we need to maintain a healthy planet.
The Underlying Issue in Conservation Work
When taken on as a career, conservation work is not charity, and it should not only be accessible for people who can afford to get involved or who are willing to get several other jobs to make ends meet. Suppose we continue building the industry this way and tearing down the young professionals motivated to get involved. In that case, we’ll never fully tap into the potential good conservation work can do.
Only once conservation work offers fair pay, a work-life balance, and equal opportunities for all will we be able to make real change. So now what we all came here to figure out…
How to Change These Norms
It all starts with speaking up and spreading awareness, saying no to exploitative or unfair opportunities to pave the way for fair opportunities to start becoming the norm. Just like consumers, we can choose which practices thrive and which fall. The more conservationists start speaking up about any discrimination, unfair working conditions, and unhinged expectations they’re held up against, the easier it’ll become to create the industry we all deserve to work in.
Consider this your starting point. Share this post along with your experience, tell me your thoughts in the comments, or email me privately if you’re looking to share in a safer space.