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“Doing the Work of Science”: Tibetan Environmentalists and the Changing Dynamics of Ecological Conservation in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 May 2024

Tsering Bum Open the ORCID record for Tsering Bum [Opens in a new window]
Tsering Bum*
Affiliation:
Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
*
Email: cairangben2021@163.com
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Abstract

In the context of China's “Constructing ecological civilization” initiative, Tibetan environmentalists are proactively incorporating ecological science into their wildlife conservation efforts. This ethnographic study explores the logics, rationales and motivations behind this approach among Tibetans in Qinghai province. The article contends that Tibetan environmentalists adopt ecological science to gain legibility in the eyes of both the state and the wider environmental conservation community, thereby enhancing their political legitimacy and social recognition. On one hand, this practice counters the stigmatizing narratives that depict Tibetan pastoralists as backward. By embracing scientific discourses and practices, they challenge such derogatory views and position themselves as forward-thinking conservationists. On the other hand, this strategy indirectly preserves the traditional knowledge of pastoralists. Through their involvement with ecological science, they merge traditional insights with scientific methodologies, ensuring the protection of their cultural heritage while adapting to the sociopolitical landscape of contemporary conservation dynamics in China.

摘要

摘要

在中国推进生态文明建设的大背景下，藏族环保者正在主动将生态科学整合进其野生动植物保护工作之中。这项人类学研究旨在探讨青海藏族采纳此种做法的逻辑、理念及动机。本文主张，藏族环保者通过引入生态科学，旨在获得国家及更广泛环保共同体的易读性，进而增强其政治正当性和社会地位。一方面，该做法反驳了那些将藏族牧民刻画为落后的叙述。通过采纳科学话语与实践，他们挑战了这种贬低的观点，并将自己定位为具备前瞻性的保护者。另一方面，这一策略也间接地维护了牧民的传统知识。他们通过融入生态科学，将传统见解与科学方法相融合，既保护了文化遗产，又适应了当代中国生态保护的社会现状与政治语境。

Keywords

Tibetan environmentalistspastoralistsecological scienceecological conservationlegibility藏族环保者牧民生态科学生态保护易读性
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , First View , pp. 1 - 16
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of SOAS University of London

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