Abstract
This essay is an extended and critical review, of John Hanks' book Operation Lock and the war on rhino poaching , which is an insider account of hitherto untold stories of a secretive undercover operation to gather intelligence to counter the ongoing slaughter of Africa's elephants and rhinos. Our critique employs the metaphor “ecology of mind”, following Gregory Bateson, to highlight how so much conservation effort with an espoused focus on improving natural ecologies fails at the level of “mind”, in particular the choices that are made to frame situations of concern. The outcome, we argue, is persistent framing failure. This failure, despite the efforts of Hanks with his authentic cry for more effective action, runs the risk of institutionalising systemic failure. Hanks consistently espouses support for local community as key stakeholders in the future of conservation − but his book lacks evidence of investment, good practice examples and institutional and governance reforms needed to create and sustain such initiatives. Indeed, the framing of the poaching challenge as a war presents barriers to finding systemic and sustainable solutions to the crisis.
Highlights
Résumé – Pourquoi la guerre contre le braconnage n’a aucune chance d’aboutir : un problème de cadrage
Ce texte est une analyse critique approfondie de l’ouvrage de John Hanks Operation Lock and the war on rhino poaching, récit inédit d’une opération sous couverture à la fin des années 1980 chargée de collecter des informations visant à lutter contre le massacre des éléphants et des rhinocéros toujours en cours en Afrique
Ray Ison is Professor of Systems at the Open University, UK where with colleagues he is responsible for a successful taught MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice. He has worked in South and East Africa, with the originators of strategic adaptive management within Kruger National Park
Summary
Regards – Focus “Frame” capture – why the war on poaching can never be won: about the John Hanks’ book Operation Lock and the war on rhino poaching. Cette pensée commence par reconsidérer la façon dont le concepteur du système se projette dans la problématique afin d’agir dans une situation complexe incluant sa propre pensée
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