Conservation for the sake of conservation is a romantic notion. But in reality, it’s far from it.

Conservation today requires the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the locals, different levels of government, corporations and even the potential economic benefit of the area in question.

Unfortunately, the last factor seems to be held in highest regard in most places around the world; this is especially true in developing countries like India. If an area has the potential for giving a boost to the economy through development, that will be pursued at the cost of ecological protection.

Here’s an interview with Dr. George Schaller, a renowned field biologist, conducted by Scroll.in.

He talks about how conservation methods have changed, how our priorities have changed, what is lacking and how he has tried to make a difference in conservation around the world. 

Here’s the insightful interview.