Inspiring dialogue on justice, decoloniality, and more-than-human relationships at the WCSG Conference

By Bas Verschuuren and Verina Ingram

The panel included renowned scholars and activists, such as Prof. Farhana Sultana (Syracuse University), Dr. Laura Burgers (University of Amsterdam), Dr. Esha Shah (Wageningen University), Danielle van Oijen (Friends of the Earth Netherlands), and Sophie Koers (The Broker). These leaders in academia and civil society engaged in a dynamic discussion that explored the barriers and pathways to meaningful change across a wide range of fields adressed through five key questions.

Language as a Tool for Justice

Sophie Koers emphasized the critical role language plays in shaping our understanding of history and perpetuating present-day injustices. She argued that language is a powerful entry point for fostering equal relationships in professional and social contexts. Koers called for a rethinking of collaborative and intervention models in the realms of development and sustainability, moving toward approaches that honor historical contexts and aim for lasting equity.

Undoing the colonial legacy Prof. Farhana Sultana highlighted the deep-rooted colonial patterns that shape our educational and social systems. She encouraged a continuous re-evaluation of these systems, suggesting that only by recognizing and integrating knowledge from varied sources and communities can we address entrenched injustices. Sultana also noted how these perspectives could influence environmental policy, proposing that alternative approaches could shift how we manage resources like forests and rethink financial mechanisms tied to deforestation.

Rights of Nature

Dr. Laura Burgers discussed the potential and limitations of recognizing the Rights of Nature. While assigning legal rights to natural entities like rivers or forests can be part of the solution for environmental protection, she stressed that this approach alone may not suffice for sustainable change. Facilitator Bas Verschuuren added that Rights of Nature initiatives often draw from Indigenous worldviews, which recognize a spiritual bond with natural entities. Although legal recognition can symbolize this bond, he noted that it does not fully capture the cultural norms and values that drive Indigenous environmental stewardship.

Decolonizing Knowledge in Academia

Reflecting on whether scientific institutions in Wageningen, Europe and beyond are prepared to contribute to just transformations, Dr. Esha Shah pointed out that academia itself is influenced by colonial perspectives that often go unexamined. She urged institutions like Wageningen University to confront these biases and commit to genuine reflection and reform. Her insights resonated with audience members from other academic and research organizations, sparking a shared call for change.

Transformative Activism in Science

Danielle van Oijen closed the discussion with a compelling message: decolonizing academia requires more than simply bringing diverse voices to the table; it may mean rethinking the table itself. She advocated for science that aligns with activism, suggesting that research should actively contribute to societal change. This sentiment inspired facilitator Verina Ingram, who expressed a renewed commitment to her role as a scientist activist and to contribute to creating safe spaces to actively hear and enable other and plural perspectives to govern transformations to a more sustainable world.

This roundtable was a powerful reminder that true transformation requires collaboration across disciplines, openness to different worldviews, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. The event underscored the importance of creating spaces that allow these crucial conversations to flourish as science and society work toward a more just and sustainable world.

Photo at top shows the panel (from left to right): Prof. Farhana Sultana (on screen), Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University; Dr. Laura Burgers – assistant professor at the Amsterdam Centre for Transformative private law; Danielle van Oijen – Programme Coordinator Forests of Friends of the Earth Netherlands; Sophie Koers – Executive Director of The Broker; Dr. Esha Shah – feminist scholar and lecturer at the Knowledge technology and Innovation group at Wageningen University. Followed by the facilitators: Dr. Bas Verschuuren, assistant professor; and Dr. Verina Ingram, associate professor, both at the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy group at Wageningen University.