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Volume 9Why Do We Value Diversity? Biocultural Diversity in a Global Context

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5282/rcc/5599

Published May 4, 2026

Issue description

The concept of biocultural diversity was introduced by ethnobiologists to argue that the variation within ecological systems is inextricably linked to cultural and linguistic differences. It has generated much interesting research and has influenced the politics of conservation. However, it is not without its critics. In this volume of RCC Perspectives, scholars from a wide range of fields reflect on the definition, impact, and possible vulnerabilities of the concept. Understandings of biocultural diversity have had and will have a significant impact on resource use and conservation, and on the transformation of landscapes. While the concept may help preserve what we value, we must ensure that it does not lead to forms of cultural or ecological imperialism.

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