Protected areas are important, but we must consider how to make them benefit, rather than hurt, local populations

The social impacts of protected areas

By Dr. Kai Schmidt-Soltau and Dr. Dan Brockington- April 2004

To read the complete paper: http://www.social-impact-of-conservation.net/

IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy, Sustainable Livelihood Working Group

Theme on Indigenous and Local Communities, Equity and Protected Areas (TILCEPA)

Presented at the First global workshop (World Conservation Congress 20.11.2004; Bangkok)

Summary

The benefits and administrative costs of conservation are well documented in academic literature and popular media. The advantages of biodiversity conservation, watershed protection, clean air, ecotourism and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage for posterity are widely acknowledged. However potentially adverse social consequences of the creation protected areas are less well known. Protected Areas frequently require the eviction and exclusion of local groups, but do not always compensate for, or properly assess, the costs involved. Since Protected Areas cover more than 10 % of the earth’s land surface, and since more are mooted adequately to protect a representative sample of the world’s ecosystems, assessing the impacts of current costs and establishing a framework for evaluating future costs is an essential task.

This proposal outlines a two stage research project which would meet these needs. The first stage consists of an initial global assessment and sets up frameworks by which the diverse economic, social and cultural consequences of protected areas may be evaluated in their different contexts. Results will disseminated on the web. The second stage will refine and apply these frameworks more thoroughly within particular parts of the world. At the same time it will seek to test and correct the information generated by using web-based interactive tools to canvass diverse opinions on the data displayed.


Introduction: the need for a social impacts assessment

The impact of protected areas on local society and economy has variable but growing recognition. The international conservation community voiced in the Durban Accord the concern “that many costs of protected areas are born locally – particular by poor communities – while the benefits accrue globally” (WPC 2003: 2). The Congress made the commitment, “that protected area management strives to reduce, and in no way exacerbates, poverty” (WPC 2003: 4). [3]

Yet since their inception, protected areas have necessitated the removal of people. Some more recent parks have involved careful compensation arrangements for people moved to make way for conservation. These are not the norm. Evictions frequently occasion expense, hardship and impoverishment. Assessments of biodiversity conservation in the context of poverty alleviation suggest that protected areas did not reduce poverty, but on the contrary increase the poverty of the rural populations (Brockington 2002, Cernea & Schmidt-Soltau 2003). Compensation for the impoverishment caused by protected areas requires knowledge of know who has been affected and how greatly their lives have changed. Appreciation of the multiple benefits of conservation will be incomplete without a good understanding of the costs involved.

To read the rest of this article, please click here.

Rainforest2Reef proves that land trusts can be set up in collaboration with indigenous groups!

Rainforest2Reef has participated in the conservation of thousands of rainforest acres in Calakmul, Mexico and have so by paying the local landowners to protect the land, thus engaging the local indigenous people in a positive way.

In this same area, other conservation organizations are paying the people to leave the land or are buying them out with dire consequences to their traditional way of life and unforseen social and ecological impacts down the line. Rainforest2Reef stands out as a beacon of how to do things in a more integrated and socially responsible way.

With $18, Rainforest2Reeef is able to protect 1 acre of rainforest in this critical habitat for jaguars and other endangered animals.

Costa Rica Conservation Trust (CRCT) is dedicated to Social Responsibility in its efforts to 'Save the Rainforest'

CRCT, an organization once working to buy land to place critical endangered rain forest under protection, now works alongside the local people to help them become the caretakers of the forest.

This task is not always easy and requires more time and resources than the traditional process commonly employed by conservation groups. There is also a lack of support and understanding of the social complexity of doing conservation work on behalf of funders and sponsors. consequently, CRCT suffers from funding issues.

Working hand-in-hand with local people is not always successful and requires a long-term approach. Education and advancement of sustainable income strategies are key. Sometimes results cannot be seen for years and they are difficult to quantify. The human element also means that evaluation costs are much higher and hard-line conservation must give way to sustainable development conversations - meaning that the forest IS used and extraction happens, but in a sustainable way. After all, houses, furniture, meat, crops and other resources must come from somewhere. Importing them from elsewhere does not make sense if the rain forest can supply them.

But even with all these obstacles, CRCT was able to accomplish many things:

- Establishment of a recycling center and waste management program in two rainforest communities.

- Reforestation of over 20 acres of buffer zones (with endangered trees).

- Establishment of an organic model farm in a rainforest elementary school.

- Establishment of an endangered tree nursery in a rainforest high school.

- Establishment of half a dozen sustainable pig farms (with biodigestors).

For more information on Costa Rica Conservation Trust, click here.

Cheers to Socially Conscious Conservation Groups!

This site will showcase and follow the work of socially responsible conservation & environmental groups around the world. Stay tuned!