Conservation Songs from the Centre for Conservation Science Team
- CCS Team
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Matt Hayward
My favourite conservation science-related song is a version of a Cold Play song that emphasises we should base our conservation decisions on evidence rather than what supports our preconceived ideas or feelings. This was brought to my attention having faced vitriol from eminent scientists during the debate about the quality of evidence associated
with claims that dingoes control foxes and cats 1,2.
Jacob Jones
My favourite conservation songs are Let the Franklin Flow by Goanna, and Kimberley by John Butler. These songs represent my two favourite things: nature and acoustic guitars. I have always had a love for songs that focus on storytelling and do believe that music has the power to change social perceptions and draw attention to import issues like the conservation of Australia’s nature in all its unique beauty. I present no empirical evidence of my belief that music has a role to play in conservation, other than a really strong hunch.
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Michelle Hession
When I was about ten years old the Counting Crows’ version of Big Yellow Taxi was released (originally recorded by Joni Mitchell in the 1970’s) and I remember looking around at my neighbourhood and realising for the first time that it was all once bushlands. That beautiful forests like those we hiked in on the weekends had been cleared so I could have a house, a yard, a school and shops. They were simple lyrics, but they hit the young version of me hard and likely contributed to my interest in sustainable development and conservation.
Finella Dawlings
My favourite conservation related songs are Yurala by a group called Spinifex Gum, and Come Along by Cosmo Sheldrake. They represent two of my greatest passions – protecting nature fiercely, and appreciating the joy and relief nature can bring us in our capitalistic society. This kind of music provides me an outlet for all the feelings that loving nature evokes in me in today’s world – awe, joy, curiosity, as well as sadness, grief and anger.
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Alex Callen
We learn so slowly (Saltwater, Julian Lennon, 1991), we are so enamoured with the shiny, and environment only seems to win when it is sexy or cool. We drop it when it is an inconvenience to us (Brazil, Declan McKenna, 2014), and greenwash nearly everything (Greenwash, MDC, 1993). Just like Compassionate Conservation 3.
References
1           Hayward, M. W. & Marlow, N. J. Will dingoes really conserve wildlife and can our methods tell? J. Appl. Ecol. 51, 835-838 (2014).
2           Hayward, M. W. et al. Ecologists need to use robust survey design, sampling and analysis methods. J. Appl. Ecol. 52, 286-290 (2015).
3           Callen, A., Hayward, M. W., Klop-Toker, K., Allen, B. L., Ballard, G., Beranek, C. T., ... & Wüster, W. Envisioning the future with ‘compassionate conservation’: An ominous projection for native wildlife and biodiversity. Biological conservation, 241, 108365 (2020).