IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| da Fonseca, G.A.B. | |
| Conservation Science and NGOs | |
| 2003 Conservation Biology (17): 345-347 | |
Academic institutions and, to a lesser degree, government research agencies have for years formed the basis of the conservation research enterprise. More recently, national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have become significant employers of conservation scientists. In developing countries, where national academic institutions tend to be weaker in conservation-related disciplines, NGO-led research is dominant. Arguably, today much of the new and exciting research is being generated by NGOs, not only strengthening conservation science but also improving the soundness of their own operations. This new role of NGOs is, however, not without controversy. Parallels can be drawn to the expansion of biomedical research into private companies, a trend accompanied by a number of challenges. The first and most obvious of these is whether results coming from profitseeking operations can be trusted, given the potential competing financial interests of the scientists and companies involved. Are we facing the same set of issues as NGOs become an increasingly significant force in conservation science? Are scientists who work for NGOs in full control of their studies and data, and how impartial can we expect them to be? |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |