Beyond Fences: Seeking Social Sustainability in Conservation
SummaryText
What is a "conservation initiative"?
"As a working definition employed in Beyond Fences, a conservation initiative is any medium- to long-term set of activities to maintain and protect natural environments and the quality of their biological diversity. In this sense, examples of a conservation initiative are the ongoing management of a protected area, the management of a territory under reserve status, or the management of a valuable ecosystem or species. All these may and usually do include forms of sustainable use of resources. Examples are also fixed-term projects or programmes providing support to the actors in charge of the above.
A conservation initiative generally applies to a territory with defined boundaries, and responsibility for its management is generally assigned to a specific institution. Besides such boundaries, however (e.g., the boundaries of a park), an initiative always has a broader area of influence. This area covers the territories where people are dependent - i.e., for food and income - on the natural resources the initiative aims to conserve. Sometimes these territories are referred to as "buffer zones". The area of influence also applies to the territories where economic or other types of human activities affect the resources to be conserved
Given the work orientation of many of the individuals and institutions that developed Beyond Fences and are expected to use it, we will mostly deal with conservation initiatives in countries of the South (so-called developing countries)."
Beyond Fences is designed to help professionals involved in conservation initiatives to identify the social concerns that are relevant for their work, assess options for action and implement them. Volume 1 is a companion to a process of planning, evaluating or re-designing a conservation initiative; an experience of "learning by doing" expected to involve a series of meetings and field-based activities. Volume 2 is a reference book to be consulted, as needed, at various stages in the same process.
Volume 1 begins with some questions and answers on what the books are all about. A brief introduction, entitled "Seeking social sustainability", discusses the reasons social concerns are important for a conservation initiative. The following three main sections address three such concerns: "Involving the people"; "Addressing local needs in conservation"; and "Managing a sustainable initiative". These three topics were identified by professionals with expertise in biological and social sciences and conservation practice. They group some major concerns and lessons on what motivates people to act for conservation, and what helps them succeed.
Volume 2 is also composed of three main sections. The first section, "Concept files", contains essays that illustrate key terms, concepts and considerations on particular conservation issues. The second section, "Participatory tools and processes", may be useful for conservation professionals who wish to communicate with local people and involve them in gathering information, assessing problems and opportunities, planning activities, managing conflicts and monitoring and evaluating results. The third section is an extensive collection of brief examples from the field, offering lessons learned in conservation initiatives that seized or missed opportunities to take action on social concerns. This last section is closely linked to Volume 1, as it offers examples of what happens when the options for action listed in Volume 1 are actually put into practice or ignored.
"As a working definition employed in Beyond Fences, a conservation initiative is any medium- to long-term set of activities to maintain and protect natural environments and the quality of their biological diversity. In this sense, examples of a conservation initiative are the ongoing management of a protected area, the management of a territory under reserve status, or the management of a valuable ecosystem or species. All these may and usually do include forms of sustainable use of resources. Examples are also fixed-term projects or programmes providing support to the actors in charge of the above.
A conservation initiative generally applies to a territory with defined boundaries, and responsibility for its management is generally assigned to a specific institution. Besides such boundaries, however (e.g., the boundaries of a park), an initiative always has a broader area of influence. This area covers the territories where people are dependent - i.e., for food and income - on the natural resources the initiative aims to conserve. Sometimes these territories are referred to as "buffer zones". The area of influence also applies to the territories where economic or other types of human activities affect the resources to be conserved
Given the work orientation of many of the individuals and institutions that developed Beyond Fences and are expected to use it, we will mostly deal with conservation initiatives in countries of the South (so-called developing countries)."
Beyond Fences is designed to help professionals involved in conservation initiatives to identify the social concerns that are relevant for their work, assess options for action and implement them. Volume 1 is a companion to a process of planning, evaluating or re-designing a conservation initiative; an experience of "learning by doing" expected to involve a series of meetings and field-based activities. Volume 2 is a reference book to be consulted, as needed, at various stages in the same process.
Volume 1 begins with some questions and answers on what the books are all about. A brief introduction, entitled "Seeking social sustainability", discusses the reasons social concerns are important for a conservation initiative. The following three main sections address three such concerns: "Involving the people"; "Addressing local needs in conservation"; and "Managing a sustainable initiative". These three topics were identified by professionals with expertise in biological and social sciences and conservation practice. They group some major concerns and lessons on what motivates people to act for conservation, and what helps them succeed.
Volume 2 is also composed of three main sections. The first section, "Concept files", contains essays that illustrate key terms, concepts and considerations on particular conservation issues. The second section, "Participatory tools and processes", may be useful for conservation professionals who wish to communicate with local people and involve them in gathering information, assessing problems and opportunities, planning activities, managing conflicts and monitoring and evaluating results. The third section is an extensive collection of brief examples from the field, offering lessons learned in conservation initiatives that seized or missed opportunities to take action on social concerns. This last section is closely linked to Volume 1, as it offers examples of what happens when the options for action listed in Volume 1 are actually put into practice or ignored.
Number of Pages
129
Source
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