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How to write a critical review (Summary of p. 224)

The article “Mainstreaming the social sciences in conservation” written by Nathan J.

Bennett, Robin Roth, Sarah C. Klain, Kai M.A. Chan, Douglas A. C lark, Georgina Cullman,

Graham Epstein, Michael Paul Nelson, Richard Stedman, Tara L. Teel, Rebecca E. W. Thomas,

Carina Wyborn, Deborah Curran, Alison Greenberg, John Sandlos, and Diogo Ver´ıssimo is an

essay which emphasized the need for mainstreaming of social sciences in conservation. The

conservation social sciences will conserve the unique relationship that humans have with nature,

and they also improve the conservation practices and the outcomes they provide. The article was

published in the Wiley Periodicals in 2016, after various authors’ input about the topic of

conservation of social sciences. The reason behind this article was that this issue of conservation

of social sciences was not taken seriously as it should have been which led various social

scientists to gather together and form a dialogue that stated the reasons as well as the limitations

that conservation of social sciences faced. This article provides numerous ways as to how the

mainstreaming of conservation of the social sciences can take place and what ways it can be

conserved and practiced.

The article begins with the author introducing why there is a need for conservation of

social sciences. For conservation, both the social, as well as the natural sciences, are crucial.

Various examples have been provided by the author highlighting the works that have taken place

which promote the conservation of social sciences. For instance, the formation of the “Global

Economics and Social Science Programme (GESSP)”, its main objective is the promotion and

development of social sciences in conservation. The author introduces conservation of social

sciences and how it is drawn upon various disciplines like economics, psychology, anthropology

and many more to ask questions which can provide improvements in the conservation policy
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from the level of individual to international scale. After introducing the conservation of social

science, the author provides different barriers that are faced while conserving social sciences.

The first barrier faced is ideological, which includes philosophies of the world and the point of

views of the society. The second barrier that is faced is giving more emphasis to natural sciences

and disregarding social sciences to the periphery. The third barrier faced is the knowledge

barrier. It includes experience, training, and knowledge of theories and methods which are

essential for the conservation of social sciences. The last barrier that is faced is the resources and

the capital provided for the conservation of social sciences. After providing different barriers that

are faced for the conservation of social sciences, the authors has provided three methods as to

how mainstreaming of conservation of social sciences can take place, in both the communities as

well as in practice. The first method of mainstreaming of conservation of social sciences is the

promotion of different worldviews and opinions to provide a room for debate and change so that

increase in knowledge can take place. This process demands open-mindedness, endurance,

modesty, and compassion for others in the society. The second method of mainstreaming of

conservation of social sciences is providing the programs and different conservatories with

resources and funding so that they will be able to conserve social sciences. This is only possible

when different agencies have the knowledge of the conservation of social sciences. The third

method of mainstreaming of conservation of social sciences is the promotion of social sciences

“through global conservation policy-influencing organizations, such as the United Nations

Environment Program and the IUCN”. By joining hands with these organizations, the

conservation of social sciences will take place on a global level, advancing the mainstreaming of

conservation of social sciences. Lastly, the final method of mainstreaming of conservation of

social sciences highlights the role that social scientists have in mainstreaming. The
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mainstreaming of conservation of social sciences can only take place if the people who are the

conservers take their job seriously and work efficiently to promote mainstreaming. At the end of

the article, the authors urge the readers towards mainstreaming of conservation of social

sciences, since it is the need of the modern world. Conservation of social sciences will improve

the future of the world in every aspect.

The main strength of the article is based on its emphasis on the method of how

mainstreaming of conservation of social sciences can take place. It provides different ways of

promoting of conservation of social sciences. These methods of mainstreaming of conservation

of social sciences are a guideline as to how conservation of social sciences takes place. These

methods require social scientists to be open-minded and have empathy. They should be able to

accept different worldviews and engage in different debates that are provided to them. Viseu

(2015:291) argues, “We must insist on the value of complexity so that divergent thinking is not

eclipsed in the effort to speak with one voice. We must make room for the disputes that are at the

center of knowledge production.” They should be knowledgeable enough so that they can

conserve social sciences in the resources and funding that is provided to them.

While the strengths are essential, there are also various limitations that are faced for the

conservation of social sciences. The most important limitation is the barrier that is faced in terms

of ideology. This barrier causes a restriction in worldviews as well as the philosophies of the

world and the point of views of the society. According to the authors of the article (2016:61),

“high-level offices to field practitioners in conservation organizations need adequate social

science expertise to inform all aspects of their operations.” By providing these practitioners and

scientists with the required knowledge, the conservation of social sciences will be more

accessible.
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To conclude, it can be said that the mainstreaming of the conservation of social sciences

is the main objective that the 21ist century’s society should focus on. This article is a very

lucrative text, providing vast knowledge regarding the mainstreaming of conservation of social

sciences. The conservation of today’s social sciences will lead to a better life in the future for our

generation to come. We should learn from our past failures and successes as to how to conserve

social sciences more productively. By applying various methods provided in the text, the

conservation of social sciences can take in a more lucrative manner. Hence, it can be said that

this article is an excellent text to learn how to promote mainstreaming of conservation of social

sciences.
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Work Cited

Bennett, N. J., Roth, R., Klain, S. C., Chan, K. M., Clark, D. A., Cullman, G.,... Veríssimo, D.

(2016). Mainstreaming the social sciences in conservation. Conservation Biology, 31(1), 56-66.

doi:10.1111/cobi.12788

Viseu A. (2015). Integration of social science into research is crucial. Nature 525: 291–291.