Biocultural conservation as an alternative pathway for conservation: A case study of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative in northern Kenya

Abstract The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) aims to conserve 30% of the planet by 2030, yet mounting evidence indicates that current methods for preventing biodiversity loss are insufficient and often intensify unjust conditions for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Alternative models have been proposed to deal with this crisis, including strict, community, neoliberal and convivial conservation. Biocultural conservation is now re‐emerging as a potential pathway to achieve the GBF target. Yet there is limited understanding of whether biocultural approaches are actually transforming how conservation is done in practice. We address this question using a case study of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) in northern Kenya. Drawing on qualitative data collected over 3 months in 2024, including 26 interviews and participatory observation, this paper explores if and how biocultural conservation moves beyond mainstream conservation models. We argue that biocultural conservation offers an alternative model for conservation which moves beyond mainstream conservation models in northern Kenya in three key ways. Firstly, it recognises communities' biocultural practices as the basis for conservation. Secondly, it adopts a more‐than‐human rights approach, and thirdly, it speaks to pastoralist communities' diverse ways of knowing and relating to nature. Our findings demonstrate that biocultural conservation subverts the goals of mainstream conservation to protect nature from people by approaching conservation as a way to protect people's relationships with nature. It moves beyond mainstream approaches by amplifying communities' own biocultural practices, rights and ways of knowing and relating to nature. On this basis, we argue that biocultural conservation provides a distinct alternative pathway which can support communities to do conservation that aligns with their own worldviews, values and goals. Policy implications . Our analysis reveals that biocultural conservation provides a unique pathway for conservation which can better support rights to autonomy and decision‐making for communities. While our research is centred on northern Kenya, the findings have broader relevance for advancing alternative imaginaries for conservation and ensuring that conservation supports people and nature to adapt and thrive in a changing world. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.