PLURALISM IN PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY ON KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK IN INDIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study addresses various dimensions of behaviour in the management of a protected area—Keoladeo National Park (KNP), Rajasthan, India, with special reference to attitudes and perceptions of stakeholders, hardships' ranking of village people and threats to park management as perceived by park staff. The results reveal the existence of a sustained conflict in the KNP at the people- KNP interface. While stakeholders still hold differing views on various critical issues like grazing, bird populations, the management system of KNP and Joint Protected Area Management (JPAM), the ecological importance of park is recognised and unquestioned by all the stakeholders. A strong need for pluralistic understanding of the current situation had been identified. Action to foster such an understanding needs to be initiated by the Forest Department, Non governmental Organisations (NGOs) and behavioural scientists working together to develop active communication channels and trust building mechanisms, and providing training in socio-behavioural skills' for forest personnel and village people. Only then can peaceful co-existence of people and the KNP be expected.