Protected Areas: A Resource or Constraint for Local People?

Muhammad Siddiq Khan,Shonil A Bhagwat

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-09-00024.1

Abstract

We investigated local people's perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes toward conservation planning and management in Chitral Gol National Park in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. A literature review was undertaken to unravel the historic drivers behind the formation of this protected area. Key informant interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of current governance approaches adopted by the park management authorities. Community-based questionnaire surveys and key-informant interviews focused on local communities' knowledge and awareness of the objectives of the park, people's role in decision-making, social characteristics, and resource use structures. The information from these surveys was evaluated within the context of good governance and sustainability of park management. Results show a lack of awareness and a low level of participation in protected area management, but a high degree of willingness in the communities to participate in conservation activities. An analysis of the survey data suggests that the park authorities enforce strict protection measures within the park, but this approach lacks a strong vision of sustainability. The surveys reveal that the local people have a very strong sense of belonging to the place and are willing to contribute to the protection of the PA. A large majority of the respondents rely on electronic media as their main source of information, which could potentially form the best medium for conservation campaigning in the region. With these findings in mind, we propose changes to the current governance model for effective and sustainable management of the park in the future.

Highlights

Protected areas (PAs) such as national parks and wildlife reserves cover more than 12% of the Earth’s surface and are considered an essential component of conservation strategies globally (Wells and McShane 2004; Bajracharya et al 2005)
While the biodiversity hot spots in developing countries are at the front line of conservation efforts, they are vulnerable to the pressures arising from persistent poverty and rapid and unchecked increases in local population
Effective management of endangered species by forced governance systems. This PA is designated by the Pakistan government as part of customary law and is managed by a government department through a hierarchical management system

Summary

Introduction

Protected areas (PAs) such as national parks and wildlife reserves cover more than 12% of the Earth’s surface and are considered an essential component of conservation strategies globally (Wells and McShane 2004; Bajracharya et al 2005). Good governance is the key factor in strengthening the effectiveness of PAs (Smith et al 2003). It is estimated that more than 1.1 billion people—nearly 20% of the world’s population—with a growth rate (1.8% per year) higher than the population growth rate of the world as a whole (1% per year) are living within these hot spots (Cincotta et al 2000). The majority of these people are directly dependent upon protected areas within these hot spots for their basic needs. In some cases the declaration of PAs means that the local communities must forgo access to resources such as fuelwood, fodder, and other products such as medicinal plants and suffer direct losses to crops and livestock-raiding by wild

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