Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: Visits to the e-zine website (and, of course, our Izilwane – Voices for Biodiversity Facebook page) are from over one hundred countries around the world, including all of North America, most of South America, almost all of Europe, Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union, most of Asia including China, Australia and Oceania, and many countries in Africa. We always point out to prospective content creators that we publish photo essays, which cross language barriers. So, for example, if someone wanted to submit material but couldn’t write in one of the three languages we now publish in (English, Spanish, and French), we suggest to that person that he or she create a photo essay and then our Managing Editor Kat Pardo and her stable of editors work to create a written story in English to accompany the photos. We work hard to publish anyone who wishes to be published. Our goal is self-expression for all who care about our theme. Of course, as I mentioned, in a perfect world, we’d have editorial pods around the globe and would publish in many, many languages.
Mongabay: What has been the reaction of conservation scientists to this project? How about governments?
Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: We’ve been very popular with conservation scientists and anthropologists, most likely because we meld the two disciplines, addressing the bio-cultural aspects of biodiversity and conservation. The fact that we work with ordinary people, not just academics, experts, and leaders, has appealed to scientists, who realize that getting the word out beyond academia and policy wonks is key to their own success. We’ve had a number of what we call “accolades ” from scientists, conservationists, and nongovernmental organizations.
I’d also like to add that the website for the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity website states: “The world is now on a path to building a future of living in harmony with nature. In October 2010, in Japan, governments agreed to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets as the basis for halting and eventually reversing the loss of biodiversity of the planet.” The first Aichi Target is to: “Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society.” We see Voices for Biodiversity as being an actor in “mainstreaming biodiversity” across society because we address the underlying cause of biodiversity loss: (1) A sense of powerlessness and lack of voice among those who care about biodiversity, and (2) A misperception by the majority, inculcated by cultures, religions, and our global capitalist economic system, that humans are more important than other species.
Mongabay: Have there been opportunities for the Voices for Biodiversity project to collaborate with conservation efforts on the ground to either prevent habitat destruction or assist an endangered plant or animal species?
Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: Our Citizen Eco-Reporters have initiated, run, and worked with a number of projects that focus on assisting endangered species and preventing habitat destruction, such as Elephant Voices, Orangutan Foundation International, the plight of baboons in South Africa, the Great Salmon Tour, CAT in WATER, Save Our Salmon, conservation of the Fossa, Marching to Save Elephants, See The Wild, and many, many more projects. Voices for Biodiversity works actively to help these projects. For example, when Mo Heim and Joanna Nasar were initiating fundraising for their project CAT in WATER to document the vanishing fishing cat, they reached out to us and we gave them their first leg-up by running an article about their project, which helped them obtain funding.
Recently primatologist Paula Pebsworth teamed up with Voices for Biodiversity when she spearheaded creating a petition asking Starbucks to stop using unsustainable palm oil and when she began a campaign to boycott Starbucks because the company would not commit to using sustainable palm oil in its pastries. (Unsustainable palm oil production is destroying habitat for many species, such as orangutans, and is contributing to an increase in greenhouse gases.) Paula and her two children made a video about their upcoming planned trip from Texas to Starbuck’s Seattle office. Along the way, they posted on Izilwane – Voices for Biodiversity Facebook page about their trip as they collected signatures. Starbucks, which positions itself as a socially beneficial and green company, refused to meet with them when they delivered their petition to its Seattle headquarters. Paula then redoubled her efforts and joined forces with Voices for Biodiversity Eco-Reporter Robert Hii, a leader in the larger fight against dirty palm oil. Robert wrote about palm oil and extinction for our e-zine. Managing Editor Kat Pardo interviewed him about dirty palm oil. And thanks to the hard work of people such as Paula and Robert, a breakthrough has recently occurred in negotiation with Wilmar, one of the largest dirty palm oil companies.
Also, because Voices for Biodiversity blogs for National Geographic News Watch, we’ve been able to leverage this privilege into helping our storytellers such as Mo Heim, Joanna Nasar, Paula Pebsworth, Robert Hii, Brad Nahill, and many others with their on the ground projects and advocacy and activist efforts.
In addition, Voices for Biodiversity has run one on the ground project. In summer 2011 three interns ran a Biodiversity and Art Project for youth in Taos, New Mexico. They also exhibited the children’s artwork and made a film about the project, which was screened at the Taos Film Festival. In summer 2012 Voices for Biodiversity had two interns showcase the film Call of Life for free to the Taos community in conjunction with Southern Methodist University as well. We are always open to working with interns and volunteers who wish to conduct an on-the-ground project under the auspices of Voices for Biodiversity.
Mongabay: Has this project impacted conservation policies in countries whose natural biodiversity has been described by your storytellers?
Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: A large percentage of our Outlier Journalists are biodiversity or bio-cultural advocates and activists who are involved in on the ground projects around the globe. By getting the word out through Voices for Biodiversity, they affect policies indirectly by helping to create awareness and educate about issues. In some cases, by publishing local voices, we also create pressure that would not exist without our media platform.
Mongabay: What are some of the wildlife species that your storytellers have focused on? Do you feel that the disappearance of plants (i.e., habitats in general) or animal species have a greater impact on your storytellers?
Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: Our storytellers have focused on many different species, such as cheetahs, elephants, whales, wolves, the fossa, fishing cats, horses (wild and domestic), salmon, tigers, birds, monkeys, turtles, and more. Our eco-reporters also have focused on an equal number of ecosystems around the globe. Usually, our storytellers combine both species and habitat in their stories. And don’t forget we also cover the human animal’s role in many of our articles too.
Mongabay: How have your readers reacted to the stories found on Voices for Biodiversity?
Dr. Tara Waters Lumpkin: We’ve heard how interesting it is to experience a more personal view of people’s relationships and perspectives on nature and other species. And readers have expressed appreciation that we train ordinary people to become Eco-Reporters. Our readers say they understand how being heard is in and of itself empowering for those who usually are not heard. Another interesting reaction came from a friend who told me that her grandchild requested that she read Studying Visitors at the Gorilla Exhibit each night before bedtime. In this story the author, an anthropologist, relates the tale of being hired to study human behavior at a gorilla exhibit. What a charming turning of the tables!
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