For one hundred years this network of wildlovers has fought to save wild things for their own sake, and has worked to set aside National Parks, Wilderness Areas, and other protected areas as the strongest tools to save wild things.
But now, this old network of wilderness and wildlife conservationists is being undermined and weakened by enviro-resourcists among funders, consultants, new staff leaders and board members who want to change conservation in these ways: Dump the ethic of wild things for their own sakes – save what is economically good; replace Wilderness Areas and National Parks with sustainable development; remake grassroots clubs into corporate institutions run by professionals; stop "doom and gloom" about extinction – don't worry, be happy; make win-win deals with conservation foes; techno-fixes will save us. Above all else, enviro-resourcists say, conservation is about people, not wild things.
In Take Back Conservation, Dave Foreman shows those who love wild things why and how they need to take back conservation. Second in the For the Wild Things series of 5 books by The Rewilding Institute.