ABSTRACT
This chapter gives some history to the study of conservation behaviour in humans, highlighting the significant contribution from evolutionary ecology. It addresses the question of whether and how conservation acts might be maintained in a population, using the classic example of a pastoral grazing reserve. The chapter develops a game theory model following closely on the work of institutional economists and behavioural ecologists. It concludes concerning the implications of our model, and some new ways of thinking about these matters. The chapter takes the view that aspects of both positions have merit. Retaining both the assumption of individual self-interest and the methodological rigour that characterize an evolutionary ecological approach. The chapter builds a model that incorporates the asymmetries in power and interest that typify most human communities and engage social scientists' attention. It retains the lay notion of conservation acts as short-term restraint aimed at maximizing long-term benefits.
