The cultural context of biodiversity conservation - Oapen

The local context
4.3 The conservational context
In discussing social impacts of protected area management, Furze et al. (1996) reveal
that one of the most common problems encountered by local communities when protected
areas are established nearby is the restriction of access to the natural resources.
Consequently, there is likely to be a conflict between the necessity for rural communities
to make a living and the management of protected areas. This also applies to the
National Park Laguna Lachuá where the establishment of the conservation area had restrictive
implications for the livelihood opportunities of the people living in the surrounding
forest-edge villages. 51 In this respect, the land-use conflict between protectionist
interests and economic needs exemplifies a typical situation where legally designated
protected areas are met with opposition from local residents. At the same
time, Laguna Lachuá is an example of an integrated development-oriented conservation
scheme. The community-based co-management involves a research branch that endeavours
to combine scientific and local knowledge to understand human-ecosystem
interrelations.
Fig. 4.5 The Laguna Lachuá at the heart of the National Park
51 According to the classification scheme of protected areas provided by IUCN, a National Park
(category II) is defined as a natural area of land and/or sea designated to a) protect the ecological integrity
of one or more ecosystems for present and future generations, b) exclude exploitation or occupation
inimical to the purposes of designation of the area and c) provide a foundation for spiritual,
scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities, all of which must be environmentally
and culturally compatible (Stolton & Dudley 1999: xiv). Within this scheme, the only permitted activities
in parks of this category are scientific investigations and tourism on a very limited scale. Any
further extractive activities are strictly prohibited.
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