City of Cockburn’s Post

Excellent presentations and discussions. What can we do for Scotland's landscapes and what can they do for Scotland's future aspirations?

Loved the questions people had after coming along and listening in earlier today, in particular one that I get a LOT and have grappled with myself in the past and still do: "As a POC, how do I get my communities / people / family to understand decolonisation as a beneficial pathway or mindset when they think so highly of the west and of the systems they're colonised within?" We see this question come up again and again especially when dealing with conservation methods and practices (e.g. 'trophy' or 'conservation' hunting in particular African nations, forestry in the Amazon, predator / prey relationship management in India), but also in general, where a large part of the pushback and lack of progress comes from local minority/ global majority/ poc communities themselves. In this situation I think it is important not to invalidate the pain. The reality is that in many cases, the western imperalist system we are in now, DOES offer certain shallow freedoms and liberties to some, in more obvious ways than the systems of home countries and states abroad. Acknowledging this is part of the decolonial process. However, building on this, to facilitate an understanding / dissection of the process that builds these systems, is necessary to teach communities how initial major Destabilisation, and then continuous and consistent Subjugation of global majority nation infrastructures, is what causes this "liberation" to be felt. Facilitation of black and brown community mental health, and discussions around luxuries of care and the elitism of "wanting more" in a system that caters to your basic needs, whilst the government of this system limits those basic needs of people back home, to promote the idea that here is "better", to further understand that we are still oppressed here, but it seems more free because of how those basic freedoms are taken away elsewhere by the same system, is necessary alongside this. It takes a lot. A lot of energy, and a lot of time. Rest is necessary, community is CORE. In the seminar we also spoke about alternative methods of conservation for the future, how conservation can be a branch of colonialism and economic control, centring indigenous practice and stewardship, the colonialist beginnings of binary and dualism, and the value of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to nature and conservation. Oh, and queer ecology and trans storytelling of course. More to come, and more to do, hopefully united. #Decolonisation #Conservation #QueerEcology #Nature #Wildlife #Globalmajority #Muslim #Trans #KingsCollegeLondon #Seminar

💼 Advocating for Heritage in Scotland’s Planning Process In today’s planning environment, balancing heritage preservation with development is a complex challenge. For professionals working in urban planning, architecture, or conservation, effective advocacy on planning applications requires nuanced understanding and collaboration. 📝 Key Advocacy Insights: 1️⃣ Public Consultation Strategy: Meaningful engagement goes beyond public comments—successful advocacy involves rallying informed support from stakeholders to ensure heritage considerations are prioritised. 2️⃣ Material Considerations: Identifying the heritage elements that qualify as material planning considerations can strengthen the case for conservation within the statutory framework. 3️⃣ Navigating Appeals: Understanding appeal rights and the influence of past decisions can empower professionals to make robust cases for heritage protection. 🌍 Partnering with AHSS: Our team at AHSS actively monitors planning applications that impact Scotland’s heritage and provides advocacy support to amplify the voice for preservation. By joining or supporting AHSS, you can strengthen our capacity to champion these causes alongside you. Join us and be part of the voice for Scotland’s heritage: https://buff.ly/3S9Arwp

Interested in mangrove restoration, community engagement, or social monitoring? Check out our new paper: “Moving social-ecological restoration forward: how mangrove project managers’ perceptions of social monitoring and community engagement serve as a model for broader restoration efforts “ (Jessica Archibald, Kevin Grady, Petter Axelsson) It explores manager perceptions of project benefits and success, how that connects to community engagement, and the need for more social monitoring of community benefits. Although focused on mangroves, it can apply more broadly to restoration efforts in other ecosystems as well.

On the 22nd, I'm excited to talk about the origins of colonial conservation and natural history, methods of decolonisation, and alternative futures of conservation in our society in an online seminar for King's College London. Much of the conservation practices we have as "foundational science" are based in the ways we have been taught to perceive and understand nature and natural history. These are flawed and limited much of the time by the societal / personal bias and privelege of those who constructed them. Not only does this mean a lot of conservation practices are actually harmful to the wildlife they seek to save, but they also actively limit our understanding of natural history, and most of the time benefit the very corporations and organisations that we are trying to fight against. Not to mention harming people and their futures (often-times underpriveleged communities the most). Deconstructing these under an intersectional lens means we can see the obvious systemic issues intertwined in conservation, which means - hopefully - we can unravel and unpick the toxicity as much as possible. Liberation is necessary in all practices, and conservation is one it often struggles to take hold in. #Conservation #Nature #Decolonisation #Future #Society #Queer #Intersectional https://lnkd.in/eRDd_ZBm

I found a treasure map amongst the #secondhand books at Launceston City Mission weekend book sale. It was tucked into the TAMAR Outline Development Plan commissioned by the Tamar Regional Master Planning Authority in 1971. This Authority was established by local #councils in northern Tasmania in 1969 & lasted about 20 years. The 1971 Plan was intended to guide the Authority in creating 'a blueprint on broad lines for the future development of the Tamar Valley Region' (Angus Bethune then Premier). Lots in this report: demography, industry, natural resources, conservation, land use planning, potential governance models. Even citizen committees for accountability. There's awareness of nascent Federal Government interest in regional planning. This Authority & a similar southern authority did not survive - government and state corporations were not bound by its recommendations & by the early 1990s state wide planning was in play. But their reports are useful and overlap many of the issues we are still working on today. There is also renewed state and federal government interest in #regional #planning which is welcome. So certainly a forerunner of Northern Tasmania Development Corporation - NTDC #TEER #TEMT Visit Northern Tasmania #LREZS Chris Griffin Craig Perkins Linda Kelly GAICD Jo Fearman Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) James McKee

Reflected on the difference between conservation and natural resource management in this one!

Building on Ancestral Lands: The Squamish Nation’s Vision for a Balanced Future In a world of rapid urban expansion, the Squamish Nation’s development plans for their North Shore reserves serve as an inspiring blueprint. Their approach goes beyond traditional development—it’s a commitment to self-determination, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment. Since announcing their comprehensive land strategy in March 2023, the Squamish Nation has meticulously worked with multidisciplinary teams to shape the future of sites like Xwmélch’sten (Capilano) and Ch’ich’élx̱wí7ḵw (Seymour). The vision includes market residences, communal spaces, and revitalized waterfront access while also addressing environmental cleanup and the preservation of areas with deep cultural significance. This initiative is not only about creating housing or commercial spaces but about weaving together past, present, and future. The Nation is redefining progress, showing that sustainable economic development can honor heritage, support community, and advance self-governance. Imagine if all developments adopted this model—where each project was a step toward reclaiming identity, strengthening community, and renewing our connections to the land. What lessons can we take from this? Let’s prioritize developments that reflect integrity, cultural respect, and sustainability for future generations. #InclusiveDevelopment #CulturalSustainability #CommunityLeadership #UrbanPlanning #IndigenousLandDevelopment

This petition asks for character and heritage houses to have incentives for retention through adaptive reuse, including more units, as an important part of planning for growth. This proposed rezoning undermines and removes the incentives in these important heritage areas. Therefore, we are opposed to these rezonings. All of the City of Vancouver Council is complicit with the provincial legislation BC Bills 44, 46 & 47 that mandate rezoning large parts of the city without public consultation before June 30. Unlike other municipalities that are advising the Province that this requires an extension for proper planning, the City is pushing ahead with rezoning two of our most important heritage areas, Kitsilano & First Shaughnessy.  Take action now before June 13 Public Hearing!  1. Sign this petition and pass it on; 2. Send an email to City Council and by online form before June 13 for the public hearing; and  3. Sign up to speak by phone or in person at the public hearing. There are TWO separate items that require separate letters and request to speak to Council.  June 13 Agenda: https://lnkd.in/gWGVvQ-E Item 4. Rezoning Kitsilano RT7 (West Kits) & RT9 (Kits Point) https://lnkd.in/g2pn-2Yi Item 5. Rezoning First Shaughnessy District & Heritage Conservation Area ODP https://lnkd.in/gUtGDSNK https://lnkd.in/gjKCWA9n

On July 3, Newsweek published ACHP Chair Sara C. Bronin’s op-ed on the need to restore Lahaina’s Native Hawaiian cultural sites following last year’s devastating wildfires. Chair Bronin writes: “Lahaina will rebuild… The crucial question is this: Can Lahaina rebuild in a way that honors and restores the Native Hawaiian history and heritage reflected in the destroyed sites and buildings?… I firmly believe it can and must.” To encourage such efforts, Bronin proposes an exemption from certain regulatory review processes for any site restoration activities led or managed by Native Hawaiian organizations. This recommendation follows the ACHP’s adoption of a new Policy Statement on Indigenous Knowledge and Historic Preservation earlier this year. https://lnkd.in/e_E2b8eg Read the full op-ed in Newsweek: https://lnkd.in/e4kqiaJd National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers National Trust for Historic Preservation