Community Conservation From Concept to Practice

The preceding chapter discussed the recenf changes in conservation. These changes have been labelled ‘community conservation’ but this is a term that needs close scrutiny. ‘Community’ is a noun that has consistently defied precise definition while ‘conservation’ is often given meaning at odds with the cultural perspectives of the ‘communities’ that are expected to practise it. In spite of, or perhaps because of, this ambiguity the term has gained a prominent place in the international lexicon ofentironmental policy and practice embracing a broad spectrum of approaches and programmes. These approaches exhibit differences ofintent, emphasis and substance. The term covers a broad spectrum of management and benefi-sharing arrangements for the involvement in natural resource management of people who are not agents of the state but, by virtue of their location and activities, are critically placed to enhance or degrade the present and future status of natural resources. To bring structure and focus to the analysis of community conservation, this chapter examines some of the major definitional and conceptual perspectives involved and identities key concepts which shape the policies, programmes and projects that fall within its ambit. While individual chapters in this book emphasize certain ofthese variables at the expence of others, cumulatively they provide the material for a synthesis based on this framework.