Overview

What does religion have to do with environmental conservation?  A lot, some people say.  Organizations like Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) are working to bring together groups of conservationists and faith leaders – people who historically haven’t had much to say to each other – to work towards the common goal of conserving nature.  ARC argues that faith-based organizations have enormous influence on human behavior and can do far more for conservation than regulations and other governmental actions can.  Because of this sway over hearts and minds, people like Martin Palmer, the director of ARC, suggest that the question isn’t why would conservation scientists and practitioners work with the faiths, the question is why wouldn’t they.  He argues that while scientific data is essential to understand our world, it doesn’t necessarily move people to change their behavior in the way that faiths can.  Faith-based organizations are an appropriate ally, he and others argue, because the majority of faiths have in their beliefs and sacred texts the call for compassion and care for nature.  Groups such as ARC work to help faiths be more effective in their efforts towards environmental stewardship and to create new partnerships between secular conservation groups and faith-based organizations.