Conservation_Biology_-_2016_-_Balding_-_Plant_blindness_and_the_implications_for_plant_conservation

Essay Overview

• Authors: Mung Balding and Kathryn J.H. Williams, University of Melbourne

• Topic: Plant blindness and implications for plant conservation

• Key assertion: Plant conservation receives less attention and funding compared to animal conservation.

Understanding Plant Blindness

• Definition: Tendency of humans to overlook and undervalue plants.

• Research Findings:

  • Animals are preferred over plants in terms of visual detection and recall.

  • Cultural factors, such as the focus on animals in biological education, contribute to this bias.

• Experiential Evidence: Some social groups maintain strong ties with plants, emphasizing non-hierarchical kinship.

• Thesis: Plant blindness is common but can be mitigated through cultural immersion and empathy towards plants.

Impacts on Conservation Funding

• Significant disparity in funding: In the U.S., plants make up 57% of the endangered species list but receive only 3.86% of funding.

• Decline in botanical education and workforce (e.g., fewer botanical degree programs, underfunding of plant conservation).

• Consequence: Ongoing loss of plant diversity, with insufficient political and media attention.

Human Perception and Conservation Behavior

• Evidence suggests that recognition and emotional connection to species influence conservation support.

• Factors affecting human appreciation of species:

  • Liking and connection with nature lead to better management of vegetation.

  • Support for conservation based on empathy towards charismatic animals.

• Challenge for Plant Conservation: Perceptual biases favor animals over plants, necessitating strategies to promote plant appreciation.

Exploring Roots of Plant Blindness

• Research Findings:

  • Studies confirm stronger preferences for animals over plants (Baird et al., 1984; Kinchin, 1999).

  • Human perception influenced by visual memory and attentional blink effects in tasks (Balas & Momsen, 2014).

• Cultural Context: Some societies deeply engage with plants, recognizing kinship and care obligations (e.g., Aboriginal Australian clans).

Factors Underpinning Plant Blindness

• Biological Basis:

  • Human evolution may prioritize animal detection for survival.

  • Visual and perceptual processing of motion has led to biases favoring animals.

• Cultural Constructs:

  • Western zoocentrism posits animals above plants in the hierarchy of visibility and importance.

  • Historical shifts in perceptions towards plants across different cultures (e.g., pre-Christian pagan societies).

Strategies for Challenging Plant Blindness

• Innovative Conservation Methods:

  • Education should focus on connecting individuals emotionally with plants.

  • Programs should encourage inclusion of plants in personal identity and ecological awareness (connectedness theory).

• Identification with Plants:

  • Highlighting human-like traits of plants can foster appreciation (e.g., communication and intentional growth).

• Empathy and Anthropomorphism:

  • Using empathy to enhance concern for plant species can increase conservation support.

  • Anthropomorphizing plants should be used carefully, ensuring factual representations.

Direct Experience and Education

• Experience-based Learning: Engaging with plants in natural settings can alter perceptions positively.

• Effective programs involve active participation like gardening and outdoor education.

• Examples of successful initiatives include: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Children’s Garden and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.

• Consideration must be given to human-centric gardening assumptions that prioritize aesthetic over ecological concerns.

Implementing Conservation Strategies

• Recommendations for Action:

  • Establish direct experience opportunities fostering emotional connections with individual plant species.

  • Collaborate across disciplines (e.g., conservationists and artists) to create engaging narratives and activities.

• Urgency for action in rectifying funding bias, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to promote plant conservation.

Conclusion

• Plant conservation is critical but often overshadowed by animal conservation efforts.

• By implementing strategies that enhance emotional connectivity and challenge bias, greater public appreciation and support for plant conservation can be cultivated.