Providing health care to improve community perceptions of protected areas.

摘要: Impoverished communities often turn to illegal extraction of resources from protected areas alleviate economic pressures or make monetary gains. Such practices can cause ecological damage and threaten animal populations. These also face a high disease burden typically do not have access affordable health care. Here we argue that these two seemingly separate challenges may common solution. In particular, providing care adjacent be an efficient effective way reduce the while improving local perceptions about areas, potentially reducing extraction. We present case study centre on edge Kibale National Park, Uganda. The has provided c. 7,200 people since 2008 its outreach programme extends 4,500 schoolchildren each year. Contrasting provision other means community suggests clinics potential as conservation tool in some situations should considered future efforts manage areas.