Though there is a need for people to meet their financial needs even when performing conservation work, it is also important to avoid the prioritization of financial gain, whether regarding individual people or corporations. At its core, conservation work is far from profitable. In fact, when asked what the largest obstacle in his conservation work was, my father identified income as being the highest on the list. Generally, working in conversation, one’s entry point is unpaid work either as a volunteer or intern. As such, a vast majority of those involved in conservation are doing so out of a sense of commitment or passion. With this in mind, it becomes clear why so much funding is necessary from other locations.
However, the issue of funding brings to light another important consideration: while corporations can certainly make a difference in conservation efforts through their funding, it is also important to keep in mind that their efforts will at least partially be tied into some level of profit. Take, for instance, the work of the Walt Disney Corporation within both Florida and the Bahamas. It would be flawed logic to suggest that the entirety of their motivations in involvement with conservation work is for profit. After all, they have dedicated over $120 million dollars since 1995 through Disney Conservation to a number of initiatives and communities1. At the same time, one cannot ignore that a number of the areas they have chosen to support have direct ties to their revenue, with a cruise line running through the Bahamas2 and the obvious presence of Walt Disney World within Florida. Rather than assuming the best or the worst, therefore, it is the most appropriate to simply keep in mind the inherent interests of corporations and avoid prioritizing their profit above all else.
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