
We’re living in a time when DEI initiatives are not just under scrutiny but actively targeted for rollback. For those of us working in conservation, this has placed a chilling effect on the meaningful strides we’ve been trying to make—whether through grants, internal practices, or community engagement. As letters circulate warning us to tread carefully, I reflect on what I’ve always wanted to say about “relevancy” in conservation, especially as framed by tools like the Relevancy Roadmap. This moment demands honesty and courage, not just compliance.
Relevancy or Performative Outreach?
At its core, the Relevancy Roadmap set out to bridge gaps between conservation agencies and broader audiences. Yet, its tone often leans toward assimilation—bringing others “to us” and our way of engaging with the natural world—rather than true connection. This performative aspect becomes glaring when we examine how narrowly it defines pathways to relevance, focusing heavily on traditional practices like hunting and fishing.
The recent attacks on DEI initiatives are a stark reminder that many systems in conservation resist genuine curiosity about diverse ways of connecting to nature. In teaching nature in counseling and human-nature relationship workshops, I draw on Ryan Reese’s Ecowellness model, which emphasizes three pillars: access, environmental identity, and transcendence. These dimensions challenge us to think beyond narrow paradigms and embrace the variety of ways people experience the natural world—whether through hiking, gardening, spirituality, indoor plants or simply being.
Understanding Power in Conservation Relevancy
In my Social Location in Conservation workshop, I often talk about how divisions within agencies—and even species themselves—carry different levels of power and influence. Some species, like white-tailed deer, receive significant funding and attention, while others are sidelined. Similarly, divisions that cater to traditional constituencies often wield more power than those conducting outreach. While the term “privilege” may now be off the table, these dynamics remain critical to understanding how conservation operates and why relevancy cannot succeed without addressing them.
The Courage to Meet People Where They Are
True relevancy requires humility. It requires us to meet people where they are—not to project our values or beliefs about nature onto them, but to genuinely listen and connect. This is the heart of environmental identity work: seeing the world through others’ eyes and finding shared ground. Whether someone’s relationship to nature is rooted in spirituality, cultural tradition, or childhood memories, these connections are valid and vital.
Nature itself provides a powerful medium for this kind of work. When we immerse ourselves in natural spaces, we access something larger than ourselves—a sense of transcendence that fosters connection and compassion. Conservation must embrace this broader perspective, even if it challenges traditional metrics of success.
A Way Forward: Redefining Relevancy
The rollback of DEI initiatives is a call to action. Rather than retreat, we must lean into this moment with purpose. Relevancy cannot be about growing our base or maintaining the status quo; it must be about creating space for all voices and values to coexist. Using frameworks like Ecowellness, we can shift from performative outreach to meaningful engagement, ensuring conservation reflects the spectrum of relationships people have with nature.
Conclusion
Now, more than ever, we need relevancy to mean something deeper. It’s not just about preserving wildlife or land—it’s about preserving our ability to connect with one another and the world around us. Let’s use this moment to redefine what conservation can be: not a gatekeeping system, but a dynamic and inclusive movement that honors all ways of being with nature.
Call to Action
If we want conservation to thrive in the face of today’s challenges, we must start with ourselves. Building capacity begins with cultivating self-awareness, transforming agency cultures, and prioritizing well-being—not as buzzwords, but as foundational principles. I’ll be sharing more on this approach in my upcoming white paper, Building Capacity in Conservation, which explores how these elements can reshape our work and create lasting change.
Let’s commit to a conservation movement that values every voice, embraces curiosity, and thrives on connection. Stay tuned for the white paper and join me in this important conversation. Together, we can create a more courageous and compassionate path forward.