Protected Area Governance and Equity

Lea M. Scherl

Ashish Kothari

Why Link Conservation with Equity Concerns?

• Ethical reasons

• Practical reasons

Ethical Reasons

• The principles of at least do no harm and respect for human rights must be observed

• The establishment and management of conservation initiatives must attempt to contribute to the livelihoods of local, indigenous communities and should not exacerbate poverty

Practical Reasons 

• Protected Areas, corridors, and other conservation efforts are not islands they exist within a social, cultural and economic context with national and international influences

• It has been demonstrated that the “fortress approach” does not work

• Protected Areas, corridors, other conservation efforts and poverty co-exists predominantly in rural areas – need to find approaches to deal with this co-existance

What is interesting and new about governance of protected areas?

• Quality

• Type

Quality: principles of “good governance” developed by the UN agencies and highlighted at the World Parks

Congress and beyond…

• Respect of human rights

• Legitimacy and Voice

• Subsidiarity • Performance • Fairness/equity• Direction • Accountability

“who holds PA management authority and responsibility and is held accountable for decisions?”

– Government Managed PAs;

– Co-managed PAs (i.e. multi-stakeholder management);

– Privately Managed PAs;

– Community Conserved Areas

Type: different “types of protected areas governance” recognised at the World Parks Congress and beyond

Does more participatory governance

leads to greater equity?• Some times yes, others not

(between community and other stakeholders; and within communities themselves)

Examples:

Within this meeting many success stories on the benefits of improved participatory governance

(Lunch-time presentations highlighted a number of issues – there is no blueprint)

• Kenya eg. – elite capture within CCAs• Phillipines – Extremely high transaction cost of

co-management• Peru – Co-management not always translate into

benefits at the local level

How can the CBD bring a stronger equity perspective to

National Policy frameworks on PAs Governance?