As someone who ran the only other #ethnobotany programme in the UK (Aberdeen, which was closed more than 10 years ago), and who taught #ethnobiology at the Edinburgh Botanics for many years, I believe I am qualified to say that the closure of ethnobotany, ethnobiology, and anthropology at Kent is appalling cultural vandalism.
Dark times are upon us, and the custodians of the lineages of wisdom must be careful now.
Well intentioned, but tone-deaf, or just completely unaware of conservation biology outside the USA and all modern ethnobiology?
"It's important that we work with communities to understand what their needs are—and then build a better partnership," Carlen said. "We can't just show residents the app and tell them that they need to use it, because that ignores the underlying problem that our society is still segregated and not everyone has the resources to participate." https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10592
This paper seems to overlook that ignoring affluent White urban/global Northern conservation projects can be an act of resistance. It's not just about "not having the resources"; it's about choosing what matters, about having the power to choose one's conversation partners and whether or not to share knowledge.
In #ethnobiology, scientists who happen to be from dominant communities actively work to overcome oppression by listening first, acknowledging anger, awaiting permission to collaborate (which may never come!), co-designing research, and breaking up privilege in their own institutions. We've been in this struggle for decades. Organisations like the #ICCA are led by local/Indigenous community stewards of biodiversity. #IPBES and #GEF worked all this out, even if there are still a few bumps.
I think I'm going to head to the Society for #Ethnobiology meeting in St. Louis in April. The SoE was my first professional meeting 20 years ago and I'm excited to return