“In the name of animals”: Book presentation and discussion

“In the name of animals”: Book presentation and discussion with Olivier van Beemen (author) and Tahani Nadim (Research Professor, Universitätsallianz Ruhr)

African Parks (AP), a conservation NGO operating in 13 African countries, is hailed as a major success in conservation, attracting support from philanthropists, celebrities like Prince Harry and Leonardo DiCaprio, and donor agencies such as the EU and GIZ. Co-founded by Dutch billionaire Paul van Vlissingen, AP manages over 20 protected areas, covering a region the size of Britain. However, critics accuse the NGO of enforcing a colonial-style conservation model through militarized control, calling it "a state within the state." Investigative journalist Olivier van Beemen, whose work has appeared in The Guardian and Le Monde, will discuss his in-depth research on AP, exposing how the conservation industry marginalizes local and Indigenous communities. Following his talk, he will join researcher Tahani Nadim in a discussion on the problematic aspects of 'green solutions.' The event is organized by the Sustainability Office Humboldt-Universität and Survival International.