Black Country, White Wilderness: Conservation, Colonialism, and Conflict in Tasmania

A revised land management plan for Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area, covering 20% of the island, reflects deep-seated tensions between white conservationist ideals and Aboriginal perspectives on land. The study reveals that wilderness ideology, emphasizing remoteness and isolation, marginalizes Aboriginal Tasmanians by reinforcing colonial narratives and racialized privilege. Through reflexive analysis of interviews, participant observation, and printed materials from environmental organizations, government, industry, and an Aboriginal corporation, the research demonstrates how conservation efforts in Tasmania perpetuate white dominance at the expense of Indigenous voices. This critique extends to the author’s own identity, adding a personal dimension that underscores the complexities of colonial legacies in conservation discourse.

Ross, D. (2017). Black Country, White Wilderness: Conservation, Colonialism, and Conflict in Tasmania. Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.15273/jue.v7i1.8410