Conservation Genomics

Conservation genomics has long operated within a colonial framework of resource extraction: biologists collect specimens from habitats and transport them elsewhere for analysis. Sample collection often occurs in resource-poor but biodiverse regions, with analysis restricted to resource-rich urban areas. This process not only removes samples but also opportunities for local involvement in downstream analyses. Recent upheavals include a global recognition of the colonial legacy in extractive science and the advent of affordable, accurate sequencing technologies. I will discuss how nanopore sequencing supports the Situ Laboratory Initiative, promoting decentralized, community-run One Health labs that generate research outputs locally, from DNA barcodes to reference genomes. This approach allows research to be conducted without samples leaving their country or region of origin, challenging the traditional model of extractive conservation genomics and fostering a more inclusive, equitable approach to biodiversity research.