If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics
Abstract Multispecies sustainability and justice can serve as narratives to support and transform nature conservation. Using discourse analysis, we study whether and how three major stakeholders engaged with such narratives to address the representation and agency of swifts (Apus apus). We focus on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | npj Urban Sustainability |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00263-3 |
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| author | Jakub Kronenberg Erik Andersson Chris Sandbrook |
| author_facet | Jakub Kronenberg Erik Andersson Chris Sandbrook |
| author_sort | Jakub Kronenberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Multispecies sustainability and justice can serve as narratives to support and transform nature conservation. Using discourse analysis, we study whether and how three major stakeholders engaged with such narratives to address the representation and agency of swifts (Apus apus). We focus on a debate on mandating ‘swift bricks’ to mitigate the loss of their nesting sites in the UK. Representation refers to acknowledging and articulating the diversity of human and swift interests. Agency refers to recognising and positioning nonhuman actors as subjects of justice. The activist-conservationist gave an imaginary voice to swifts and thus attempted to focus public attention on what these birds demand. The policymakers did not relate to realities other than human and remained impervious to nonhuman rights. We suggest creatively addressing the multispecies perspective in the standard political debates on infrastructural improvements and biodiversity net gain by rethinking the role of built infrastructures for nature conservation and restoration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-27864de0f20f44d7b3430e07ef23acf0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2661-8001 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Urban Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj-art-27864de0f20f44d7b3430e07ef23acf02025-08-24T11:33:18ZengNature Portfolionpj Urban Sustainability2661-80012025-08-015111010.1038/s42949-025-00263-3If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politicsJakub Kronenberg0Erik Andersson1Chris Sandbrook2Social-Ecological Systems Analysis Lab, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of LodzFaculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), University of HelsinkiDepartment of Geography, University of CambridgeAbstract Multispecies sustainability and justice can serve as narratives to support and transform nature conservation. Using discourse analysis, we study whether and how three major stakeholders engaged with such narratives to address the representation and agency of swifts (Apus apus). We focus on a debate on mandating ‘swift bricks’ to mitigate the loss of their nesting sites in the UK. Representation refers to acknowledging and articulating the diversity of human and swift interests. Agency refers to recognising and positioning nonhuman actors as subjects of justice. The activist-conservationist gave an imaginary voice to swifts and thus attempted to focus public attention on what these birds demand. The policymakers did not relate to realities other than human and remained impervious to nonhuman rights. We suggest creatively addressing the multispecies perspective in the standard political debates on infrastructural improvements and biodiversity net gain by rethinking the role of built infrastructures for nature conservation and restoration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00263-3 |
| spellingShingle | Jakub Kronenberg Erik Andersson Chris Sandbrook If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics npj Urban Sustainability |
| title | If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics |
| title_full | If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics |
| title_fullStr | If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics |
| title_full_unstemmed | If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics |
| title_short | If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics |
| title_sort | if a swift could fight for their existence with words nonhuman interests and politics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00263-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jakubkronenberg ifaswiftcouldfightfortheirexistencewithwordsnonhumaninterestsandpolitics AT erikandersson ifaswiftcouldfightfortheirexistencewithwordsnonhumaninterestsandpolitics AT chrissandbrook ifaswiftcouldfightfortheirexistencewithwordsnonhumaninterestsandpolitics |