Insights into Community Attitudes and Perceptions at Borakalalo National Park, South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 002190962097057
Author(s):  
Ian Gordon-Cumming ◽  
Kevin Mearns
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Community Attitudes ◽  
Meaningful Participation ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions

Meaningful community participation is core to the long-term success of protected areas. Hence, it is important to understand what drives neighbouring community attitudes and perceptions. This study sought to determine local community attitudes towards conservation and protected areas, as well as their perceptions of benefits and participation at Borakalalo National Park. Semi-structured interviews were held with experienced park officials, while a structured household survey and focus group discussions were conducted across five surrounding villages. The results highlighted a number of interesting findings, including widespread support for biodiversity conservation and protected areas offset by considerable negativity towards Borakalalo itself. It was also determined, despite stated co-management policies, community residents perceived there was little meaningful participation and benefits were poorly communicated and unfairly distributed. Pragmatic suggestions were made for jointly developing more effective participation with the communities, despite limited available resources.

scholarly journals Repenser Le Rôle Des Institutions De Conservation De La Nature À L’ère De La Globalisation En Afrique: À Propos Du Parc National De La Salonga (RDC)

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Mampeta Wabasa Salomon
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
The Other ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Contemporary Management

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the protectionist conservatism influenced by colonialism, which exploited African countries for the prosperity of the colonizing countries, still has a high visibility in the Salonga National Park (PNS). If, in theory, the Central Africans seem to free themselves from the colonial powers on their land, in practice they are still there. The hostility of settlers who have become neo-colonists to the development of Central Africa remains intact, he adds (Ndinga, 2003). This reflects a "logic from above" that has disregarded local values. Yet, in the era of sustainable development and globalization, African protected areas appear to be essential tools for States to reposition themselves in a complex set of actors with the aim of capturing and using the new environmental rent (Giraut, Guyot, & Houssay-Holzschuch, 2003). This is a "bottom-up logic", placing people at the heart of all activities and aiming to reorganize their long-term relationships with the environment. From these two logics, a third "logic from the other side" emerges, reflecting a collective awareness of the fragility of the planet. The restoration of the rights of Africans in the various national frameworks constitutes a major challenge for the contemporary management of African protected areas. Because the protected areas inherited from the different colonial systems must accompany the change in management methods and the redefinition of their functions in order to better serve the local community in the long-term.

scholarly journals Conservation narratives and conflicts over protected areas in post-socialist Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-104
Author(s):  
Marie Louise Aastrup
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Local Decision ◽  
Post Communism

Environmental protection is never a controversy-free endeavor. Conflicts arise over land ownership, use, and access. Political ecologists have paid extensive attention to protected areas, especially in relation to power, rights, and marginalized peoples. This article draws on political ecology to examine a new proposed national park in the context of post-communism and neoliberalization in Romania. Using mixed-methods (semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and participant observation), this research investigates conservation narratives as articulated by different actors (environmental non-governmental organizations, local decision-makers, and local community members) with various levels of involvement in the proposed national park. Three chief narratives can be observed pertaining to tourism, restrictions, and deforestation. These narratives are embedded in the history and socio-economic context of the area, but also reveal the agendas of different actors regarding landscape values. Assessing these narratives, this research reveals how actors position themselves and the points of contention among the different actors in the brewing conflict that the national park represents.Keywords: Political ecology, conservation, conflict, power

scholarly journals From conflict to collaboration: the contribution of co-management in mitigating conflicts in Mole National Park, Ghana

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ophelia Soliku ◽  
Ulrich Schraml
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Management ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Conflict Escalation ◽  
Collaborative Community ◽  
Deliberative Processes ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

AbstractFew studies exist about the extent to which co-management in protected areas contributes to conflict prevention or mitigation and at what level of the conflicts such collaborative efforts are possible. Following varying degrees of conflict, Mole National Park, Ghana, embarked on a collaborative community-based wildlife management programme in 2000. Using Glasl's conflict escalation model, we analysed the contribution of co-management to mitigating and preventing conflicts from escalating. We conducted a total of 22 interviews with local traditional leaders, Park officials and local government officials, and 26 focus group discussions with farmers, hunters, women and representatives of co-management boards, selected from 10 of the 33 communities surrounding the Park. Our findings indicate that co-management can help mitigate or prevent conflicts from escalating when conflicting parties engage with each other in a transparent manner using deliberative processes such as negotiation, mediation and the use of economic incentives. It is, however, difficult to resolve conflicts through co-management when dialogue between conflicting parties breaks down, as parties take entrenched positions and are unwilling to compromise on their core values and interests. We conclude that although co-management contributes to successful conflict management, factors such as understanding the context of the conflicts, including the underlying sources and manifestations of the conflict, incorporating local knowledge, and ensuring open dialogue, trust and transparency between conflicting parties are key to attaining sustainable conflict management in protected areas.

scholarly journals Sea turtles support sustainable livelihoods at Ostional, Costa Rica

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mallika Sardeshpande ◽  
Douglas MacMillan
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Sustainable Livelihoods ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Olive Ridley ◽  
Nesting Site

AbstractOstional in Costa Rica is the second largest nesting site of the olive ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea, which is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In Ostional the local community helps maintain the nesting site and collects olive ridley eggs for consumption and trade within Costa Rica. Since its inception in 1987 the egg harvesting project has integrated sea turtle conservation with community development. We assessed the current status of this project in terms of community awareness, dependency, involvement and perceptions, using a household survey and semi-structured interviews with key informants. We also compared some of our findings with those of previous studies at the site, finding that the project has fewer dependents, primary livelihood activities have shifted towards tourism and hospitality, and respondents are more aware about environmental conservation and stewardship. We map outcomes of the project with the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, and suggest that further capacity building for research and tourism could contribute towards sustaining the turtle population, local livelihoods, and the community-based conservation institution.

scholarly journals A comparative study on the costs and returns of organic vs. inorganic farming practices at selected areas near Dhaka, Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-299
Author(s):  
Md Arafat Islam ◽  
Nazmul Ahsan Khan ◽  
Raisa Bashar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Effective Choice

Inorganic farming is the norm in most areas of Bangladesh today, especially at croplands near Bangladesh’s capital - Dhaka. However, several recent studies have shown that such practices cause soil degradation overtime, consequently leading to long-term harm to the environment and economic profits. This long-term cost is often avoided by most farmers as inorganic farming is believed to fetch increased productivity/monetary gains, than its environmentally friendly, organic counterpart: the primary aim of this research was to find out the validity of this belief. The research used literature review and analysis of primary data collected about input costs, returns, crop yields, environmental effects, etc., from sixty respondents (mostly farmers and consumers involved in both types of farming), using one-on-one structured interviews, and three focus group discussions at the selected areas of Savar, Sreenagar and Rupganj, focusing primarily on two popular crops – tomato and corn; graphical and tabular analyses were conducted using MS Excel to propose interpretations and record findings. Keeping all other things constant and internalizing environmental externalities, while organic farming was found to produce around 50% and 33% less tomatoes and corns in net terms, respectively, than inorganic farming, the input costs and returns from one cycle of production were found to be lower (50%) and higher (around 200USD), respectively. Hence, from a long-run perspective, organic farming was concluded as the more cost-effective choice both in economic and environmental terms, given that the Dhaka market for organic products are managed better by the producers, consumers and government, alike. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.6(2): 289-299, August 2019

Crop and livestock depredation caused by wild animals in protected areas: the case of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
NAGOTHU UDAYA SEKHAR
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Local People ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Livestock Depredation ◽  
Tiger Reserve ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Wild animals often destroy standing crops and prey on livestock, causing economic losses to farmers. Crop and wildlife damage are becoming serious for many Indian protected areas, and this study aimed to characterize the problem in villages in and around the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), Rajasthan, India. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire in 37 villages followed by a semi-structured questionnaire administered to 180 households, quadrat sampling and focus group discussions. Crop and livestock depredation evidently affected nearly half of the households in villages adjacent to the STR, but damage varied considerably amongst villages and with distance from the Reserve border. Wild animal distribution and protection measures which people adopted also influenced the damage. Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus() and wild boar ((Sus scrofa() were reported to be responsible for at least half of the total damage to the major crops caused by wild animals. Tigers and leopards were the main livestock predators; the former preyed mostly on larger livestock and the latter on smaller animals such as goats and sheep. More than two-thirds of the villagers spent considerable time and money guarding crops and protecting livestock. Guarding was the most popular means followed by physical fences around fields. In spite of damage to crops and livestock, the local people still had a positive attitude towards the STR, because of tangible benefits derived from the Reserve in terms of fodder and fuelwood, and cultural/religious attitudes towards wild animals. Settlement of rights to collect fuelwood and fodder within the Reserve appears to be one acceptable measure to compensate for losses besides an immediate review of hunting policy. Suggestions given by local people to minimize losses have implications for the long term sustainability of the STR as a protected area.

scholarly journals Ecotourism in the Tangkoko DuaSudara Nature Reserve: opening Pandora' box?

Oryx ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret F. Kinnaird ◽  
Timothy G. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
North Sulawesi ◽  
Macaca Nigra ◽  
Visitor Numbers

Indonesia, like many other developing countries, is turning to ecotourism in an attempt to integrate the goals of development and nature conservation. Although ecotourism may be a valuable tool for preservation of biodiversity, it can have long-term negative effects on reserves, wildlife and local communities if improperly managed. In this study the authors evaluated ecotourism in the Tangkoko DuaSudara Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi, by examining trends in visitor numbers, the tourist experience, the distribution of tourist revenues, and tourist impact on the Sulawesi black macaque Macaca nigra and spectral tarsier Tarsier spectrum. The data collected showed that, although tourism is expanding rapidly, local benefits are not being fully realized, the reserve does not generate enough money to implement management, and primate behaviour is being affected. There is urgent need for a change in legal status of the reserve if ecotourism is to be managed. National park status would accommodate ecotourism planning and development, provide for greater participation by the local community, and allow for increased revenues for management.

scholarly journals Factors influencing local attitudes and perceptions regarding jaguars Panthera onca and National Park conservation in Panama

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Fort ◽  
Clayton K. Nielsen ◽  
Andrew D. Carver ◽  
Ricardo Moreno ◽  
Ninon F. V. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Land Ownership ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions

AbstractThroughout its range in Latin America the jaguar Panthera onca is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and conflict with humans. Protected areas in Panama harbour some of the last remaining suitable habitat for jaguars and are vital to conservation. However, no previous studies had assessed which factors in particular affect the tolerance of rural Panamanians towards jaguars and National Park conservation, which is important to jaguar persistence. Whether these factors are consistent with previous research on human–carnivore coexistence is unclear. To address this we estimated the number of instances of depredation of cattle by jaguars, and assessed attitudes and perceptions of rural Panamanians. We conducted semi-structured interviews in two disparate study areas: Cerro Hoya National Park and Darién National Park. Depredation events were more frequent in the latter, but only residents of the former reported conflict between people and coyotes Canis latrans. Positive perceptions of jaguars and National Parks, and criticism of park management, increased with level of education and land ownership. Men were more open to receiving help on their farms to mitigate impacts of jaguars, and more tolerant of the presence of jaguars, than women. Residents from both study areas indicated high appreciation for their respective National Parks. We provide recommendations to improve community outreach and education initiatives, and suggest priority areas for future mitigation efforts concerning human–jaguar interactions in Panama.

EIA Practices in the Natural Gas Extraction Sector in Tanzania: Does Local Community Contribution Matter?

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (03) ◽  
pp. 1950015
Author(s):  
Iddi Mwanyoka ◽  
Will-Elimina Selestine ◽  
Said Nuhu
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Gas Extraction ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Community Contribution ◽  
Effective Community ◽  
Natural Gas Extraction ◽  
Document Review

Community participation is an important element for implementation of various development projects including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes. However, involvement of the local community in contributing to the EIA processes is minimal. This paper sought to explore local community contribution in the EIA practices in the natural gas extraction sector in Tanzania. Household survey, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document review were employed in this study. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents have inadequate understanding of the EIA process and therefore undermine its significance, their role and contribution towards the exercise. Procedures for engaging the community were also lacking according to standard measure practices. Various factors emanating from policy implementers, EIA consultants and the community were attributed to low participation. Views and opinions of participants were not considered during implementation of the gas exploration and extraction project which left communities dissatisfied with implementers and practitioners. Therefore, implementation of the EIA policy in regard to procedures should be emphasised to ensure adherence for smooth and effective community participation in the EIA processes. This will guarantee respect for community contribution and mainstreaming of suggestions in the implementation of natural gas exploration and extraction projects to avoid adverse effects and reduce on mitigation consequences.

Enhancing community participation in tourism planning associated with protected areas in developing countries: Lessons from Malawi

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix G Bello ◽  
Brent Lovelock ◽  
Neil Carr
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Tourism Planning ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Depth Interviews

Most studies on community participation in tourism planning only advocate the importance of the concept and/or identify barriers without articulating the required actions or strategies to actually promote community participation. Based on a study in two protected areas in Malawi, this paper identifies and discusses possible strategies that can enhance community participation in tourism planning associated with protected areas in developing countries. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The study participants were from protected area management agencies, government departments, non-governmental organisations, tourism operators and the local population surrounding the two protected areas. The findings suggest the need for a rethink on how local communities around protected areas are involved in tourism planning in developing country contexts. Six strategies emerged as major prerequisites to achieve full and active community participation: public awareness and education; capacity building; creation of linkages; use of appropriate participation methods; involvement of appropriate local community organisations and decentralisation and coordination of relevant management organisations.

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