June 7th – 9th, 2026 | Cape Town
Turning the Illiberal into the Convivial? Debating the Future of Wildlife Conservation in Africa
This workshop critically examined the histories, present dynamics, and future trajectories of wildlife conservation in Africa amid growing political, ecological, and social turbulence. Bringing together scholars and practitioners, it explored how increasingly illiberal forms of conservation—marked by militarization, extraction, and exclusion—might be transformed into more just, holistic, and convivial approaches.
Combining presentations with collective debate sessions, the workshop focused on three thematic areas: conservation brutalism and resistance; the histories and genealogies of illiberal conservation; and alternative conservation futures shaped by African environmentalisms and visions of coexistence. The workshop also aimed to foster future collaboration through a joint publication and the development of a transdisciplinary research agenda.
