Who cares about coral?

Associate Professor Simon Foale, Research Fellow of The Cairns Institute, wrote a paper which was published in the Journal of Tropical Futures: Sustainable Business, Governance & Development. The title is " Who cares about coral? The biological species concept and ‘cumulative intrinsic value’ in cross-cultural perspective’" This paper explored how Western conservationists and Pacific coastal fishers perceive the value of corals and reefs.

By analysing local language names (folk taxonomies), it revealed a disconnect—many species-rich reef fish families are rarely named, challenging Western conservation’s emphasis on biodiversity’s intrinsic value. It questioned the moral basis for marine protected areas that economically impacted local f ishers and highlighted a lack of reflexivity in Western science about Pacific communities’ environmental knowledge.

The study called for a more inclusive conservation approach that values diverse perspectives. To read more: https://shorturl.at/PGIeO

Issued February 2025