[FRB-CESAB] Blue and Green Justice

Traditional conservation approaches have typically focused solely on ecological aspects. However, a growing body of research shows that the success of conservation policies depends as much on governance, power dynamics, and underlying principles of justice as on the biological mechanisms they aim to protect. Despite this, the interactions between these dimensions remain poorly understood and are often studied in isolation.

 

Drawing on the findings of four FRB-CESAB research projects, this conference explores the emerging concept of Blue and Green Justice in biodiversity conservation. Each project used distinct methodological and disciplinary approaches, yet all shared a common goal: to examine how stakeholder engagement in conservation processes can strengthen the protection and resilience of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

 

 

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Learn more about the projects

 

The program will begin with the PARSEC project, which combined satellite imagery, socio-economic data, and artificial intelligence to quantify the global impacts of protected areas, particularly on poverty. In parallel, PARSEC collaborated with the MPA-Poverty project — funded by the ANR and led by CEE-M — which resulted in a case study focused on fisheries in Tanzania.

 

The discussion will continue with the BLUE JUSTICE project, which explored the global connections between equity, marine policies, and the resilience of coastal communities, especially under the combined pressures of climate change, conservation, and development.

 

Complementing this, the JUSTCONSERVATION project synthesizes 50 years of empirical literature (662 case studies), providing robust statistical evidence that governance led by Indigenous peoples and local communities significantly improves ecological and social outcomes.

 

Finally, the POWERBIODIV project examines a dimension long theorized but rarely operationalized: power. Using a multidimensional framework combining systematic reviews, network analyses, and modeling, the project investigates how visible, hidden, and systemic forms of power influence participatory processes and their outcomes.