Conservation and Culture: Natural Resource Management and the Local Voice

摘要: Introduction Contemporary natural resource management is expanding its focus as a result of the dynamic interchange between conservationists and local people residing in or near world's protected wildlands. "Whereas conservation efforts previously focused on biological aspects particular wild areas, todays involves local, national, international stakeholders broader, more sociopolitically-charged context. This paper illustrates different variables involved from to sphere, discusses new emphasis programs that involve culture involvement crucial components their success. Following this discussion, will illustrate how these have broken down Ecuadorian Amazon, resulting desperate attempts by communities surpass national managers appeal community for protection native environment. The process contextualizing difficult, especially when viewed at external level. However, integration cultural perspectives concerning die level, with acknowledgement sitespecificity, may prove be paradigm conservation. It upon social stage, radier than economic, diat of-environment same process. And it contexts are respected valued, becomes an effective Politics International Conservation projects developing world been historically driven level interest groups concerned preserving diversity. national-level non-government organizations (NGOs) other institutions around globe oftentimes undertaken which reflect dieir biases preservation diversity over integrity, without reflection relationship two. Policies direct implications formulated arenas (Milton 1993), sites administration. Acceptance parks has shown increase proportionately increased distance area (Rentsch 1988), afindingwhich reflects decontextualized nature park delimitation. decontextualization environmental policy making can drastic consequences "who find everyday activities banned laws, economies undermined campaigning NGOs" 1993: 5). As notes Einarsson, "in realpolitik relations, ethnocentric assumptions forced cultures deviate what hegemonic superpowers define civilized acceptable" (1993: 81-2). He further states that, "greater understanding barriers crossed policies implemented could make sensitive needs" Developing countries, many retain large expanses wildlands unprotected newly-protected status, politically economically accept ignore context use. While successes such debtfor-nature swaps ecotourism served combine wildland economic planning (Hendee et al. 1990), effects terms social, rather factors not fully explored. often results breakdown enforceability noted Western ideals preserves externally-valued areas expense rural peoples, who view reserves taking away life support (Field Burch 1988). …