Combining the goals of conservation, tourism and livelihoods in the management of protected areas (original) (raw)

2020, SLU, Dept. of Urban and Rural Development

Abstract

The liberal conservation agenda promotes the incorporation of human needs into the management of Protected Areas (PAs). Across the globe, nature-based tourism has been among the suggested tools of promoting sustainable conservation together with development of the local communities living around the PAs. This exploratory study was conducted to contribute to improved management practices of PAs by using the Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Northern Rwanda as a case study to explore whether the tourism practices there can help to achieve the reconciliation between conservation and the local people's livelihoods goals. The study has the main objective of understanding the benefits and constraints of combining the goals of conservation, tourism and livelihoods by using the VNP as a Case Study. The study has adopted a qualitative approach and was based on interviews and literature review as methods of data collection. The study has been conducted during the global pandemic (COVID-19), therefore, phone interviews were used to interview 14 participants in relation to the VNP management, from three different categories of ecotourism stakeholders. The categories are: (1) the government and/or VNP management staff as the Director of VNP; (2) Conservation NGOs like the top management staff of the Diana Fossey Gorilla Fund International and the conservation workers like the Mountain Gorilla Trackers; (3) the local community which, in turn, is also divided into four subcategories: (a) the local institution representatives like the village leader; (b) members of different Community-Based Organisation (CBO) or cooperatives; (c) local people employed by ecotourism projects; and (d) ordinary villagers or farmers. The data collected were transcribed, translated and analysed qualitatively. The results of this study showed that the combination of the goals of conservation, tourism and livelihoods is difficult to achieve to a practice in the context of VNP. The goals of tourism and conservation have been achieved to a higher degree, in comparison to those of the local community's livelihoods. The study suggests that the mixed success of the linkage is based on the fact that the tourism attraction (VNP) is owned and run by the government which considers the tourism industry as its number one foreign currency earner. Though the major benefits of the linkage between tourism, conservation and livelihood are mostly macroeconomic growth, different initiatives of conservation NGOs and the Tourism Revenue Sharing scheme have brought some positive changes in both conservation of the park and the local community's livelihood diversification. This study, however, shed more light on the challenges such as lack of capacity and power for the local community which in turn limit them from effectively participating in different ecotourism processes such as elaboration and implementation of the management and conservation policies; collection and investment of tourism revenues, etc. The current top-down approach of managing the VNP makes the future of the park conservation uncertain. The study showed that, even though the number of cases is decreasing, illegal activities in the park still exist, the community still depend on the park for basic needs, due to lack of infrastructures like water and electricity. Therefore, the study suggests a shift from a top-down approach to decentralised natural resources management. The decentralisation is believed to empower the local community so that they will be able to manage and use the resources from the park. As a result, the existing benefit leakage among the ecotourism stakeholders could be decreased as well.

Key takeaways

sparkles

AI

  1. Mixed success in integrating conservation, tourism, and livelihoods at Volcanoes National Park (VNP) highlights systemic challenges.
  2. Tourism Revenue Sharing (TRS) scheme provides only 10% of income, primarily benefiting infrastructure over local livelihoods.
  3. Local community's limited participation and capacity hinder effective engagement in ecotourism processes.
  4. Illegal activities persist due to poverty and inadequate community infrastructure, despite conservation efforts.
  5. Decentralization of resource management could empower local communities and improve conservation outcomes.

Loading...

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

References (55)

  1. References
  2. Acheson, M. (2011). Ostrom for Anthropologists. International Journal of the Commons. Vol.5(2), pp.319.339.
  3. Agrawal, A. (2005). Environmentality. Community, Intimate Government, and the Making of Environmental Subjects in Kumaon, India. Current anthropology. Vol.46(2), pp.161-190. DOI: 10.1086/427122
  4. Ahebwa, W. M. (2012). Tourism, livelihoods and biodiversity conservation: an assessment of tourism related policy interventions at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Uganda.
  5. Arévalo Arévalo Vásquez, A. R. (2010). Enhancing natural resources management and livelihoods in Zapatera Archipelago National Park, Nicaragua. Masters' thesis. Uppsala: SLU Devex. (2020). How will tourism in LMICs change post-COVID? https://www.devex.com/news/how-will-tourism-in-lmics-change-post-covid- 97559?fbclid=IwAR3JL86gGunno2WsqIdh9hlLByUG4IWY9Yslg7otOOb0NAxANfnIuETf 0K4#:~:text=Our%20COVID%2D19%20coverage%20is%20free.&text=%E2%80%9CWhat %20we%20recorded%20in%20March,for%20the%20sector%20and%20country [2020-08-
  6. Ekise, I, E., Nahayo, A., Habumugisha, J.B & Mbabazi, P. (2013). A Socioeconomic Determination of the Impact of Volcanoes National Park on the Livelihoods of the Local Neighbouring Communities in Northern Rwanda. New York Science Journal, 11, 14-26. http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork
  7. Ellis, F. (2000). Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford Oxford University Press.
  8. Fairhead, J., Leah, M., & Scoones, I. (2002). Green Grabbing: a new appropriation of nature?, Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(2), 237-261. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03066150.2012.671770
  9. Fisher, H. W. (2016). Beyond Participation and Accountability: Theorising Representation in Local Democracy. World Development, 86, 111-122. 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2016.05.003
  10. Givá, N. (2016). Parks with People? (Doctral dissertation). DOI: 10.1080/03057070.2017.1374810
  11. Hitimana, J., Namara, A., Sengalama, T., & Nyirimana, J. (2006). Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Plan. Kinigi Area, Rwanda. Report prepared for the International Gorilla Conservation Programme.
  12. Hornborg, A. (2013). Revelations of resilience: From the ideological disarmament of disaster to the revolutionary implications of (p)anarchy, Resilience 1(2) 116-129, DOI: 10.1080/21693293.2013.797661
  13. Inglis, D. (2012). Phenomenological paradigms. The symbolic interactionist paradigm. An Invitation to Social Theory. Cambridge. Polity Press 86-128.
  14. Lanjouw, A. (2008). "Building partnerships in the face of political and armed crisis." Journal of Sustainable Forestry. Volume 16(3-4), 89-110.
  15. Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social. An Introduction to actor-network-theory. Journal of Economic Sociology. Oxford University Press, 14(2), 73-87.
  16. Leach, M., Newell, P., Scoones, I., & Mehta, L. (1999). Exploring understandings of institutions and uncertainty: new directions in natural resource management. Lewis, C. (Ed). (1996). Managing conflicts in protected areas. IUCN.
  17. Mc Guiness, S. (2014). The effects of human-wildlife on conservation: a case study of the Volcanoes National Park, Northern Rwanda Doctoral dissertation, Trinity College Dublin. DOI: 10:13140/RG.2.1.1245.9367.
  18. McDonald, I. (2003). Community-Based Conservation: A Reflection on History.
  19. Miller, C.C. (2017). Challenges and potentials of ecotourism as a form of conservation and sustainable development on Zapatera island, Nicaragua. Master's Thesis. Uppsala: SLU MINICOFIN. 2015. Musanze District Profile. National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda: Fourth Population and Housing Census, Rwanda,2012.
  20. MINICOM (Ministry of Trade and Industry). 2013. Rwanda Protected Areas Concessions Management Policy.
  21. Murray Li, T. (2007). Practices of assemblage and community forest management, Economy and Society, 36(2), 263-293, DOI: 10.1080/03085140701254308
  22. Nielsen, H., & Spenceley, A. (2011). The success of tourism in Rwanda: Gorillas and more. Yes Africa Can: Success stories from a dynamic continent, 231-249. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3853.1956.
  23. Nyaupane, G.P., & Poudel, S. (2011). Linkages among biodiversity, livelihood, and tourism. Annals of tourism research, 38(4), 1344-1366. DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2011.03.006
  24. Pretty, J. N., Guijt, I., Thompson, J., & Scoones, I. (1995). Participatory learning and action- A trainers guide.
  25. RDB (Rwanda Development Board). (2017). Annual Report. file:///C:/Users/ndaje/Desktop/EX0889%20(SLU-
  26. %20Master%20thesis%20in%20Rural%20Development/Theory%20and%20Literatur e%20review/RDB-Annual-Report-2017-Final.pdf Last visited on 24/09/2020.
  27. Republic of Rwanda. 2014. Revised and Updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.
  28. Ribot, J. C. (2002). Democratic Decentralization of Natural Resources: Institutionalizing Popular Participation (World Resources Institute, Washington, DC). Washington, DC.
  29. Ribot, J. C. (2003). Democratic decentralization of natural resources: institutional choice and discretionary power transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Public Administration and Development: The International Journal of Management Research and Practice, 23(1), 53-65. DOI: 10.1002/pad.259
  30. Ribot, J. C. and Chhatre, A., & Lankinad, T. (2008). Introduction: Institutional choice and recognition in the formation and consolidation of local democracy. Conservation and Society, 6 (1). 1-11. http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/45367/
  31. Ronald, K., Emmy, T., & Emmanuel, N. (2016). Local Community Attitude and Perceptions towards Tourism Conservation Policies in Rwanda Case of Volcanoes National Park. DOI: 10.13189/aeb.2016,041201.
  32. Salafsky, N., & Wollenberg, E. (2000). Linking livelihoods and conservation: A conceptual framework and scale for assessing the integral of human needs and biodiversity. World development, 28(8), 1421-1438.
  33. Sandbrook, C. G. (2006). Tourism, conservation and livelihoods: the impacts of gorilla tracking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (Doctoral dissertation, University of London). [Written permission from the author was received on 2020-09-05].
  34. The Guardian. (2018). Rwanda's £30m Arsenal sponsorship divides opinion. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/29/rwandas-30m-arsenal-sponsorship-divides- opinion [2020-08-10].
  35. The Sun. (2018). Rwandan tyrant pays Arsenal £30m to put 'Visit Rwanda' on their shirts while orphans are so poor they can't even afford a football. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6495778/rwandan-tyrant-pays-arsenal-30m-to-put-visit- rwanda-on-their-shirts-while-orphans-are-so-poor-they-cant-even-afford-a-football/ [2020- 08-10].
  36. Tolbert, S., Makambo, W., Asuma, S., Musema, A., & Mugabukomeye, B. (2019). The perceived benefits of protected areas in the Virunga-Bwindi Massif. Environmental Conservation, 46(1), 76-83. Doi: 10.1017/S0376892918000309.
  37. Travelandynews (TAN). (2019). Revenue from gorilla tourism grows 25% in Rwanda. https://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/revenue-gorilla-tourism-grows-25 [2020-09-24].
  38. Umuziranenge, G. (2019). Parks' Governance and Management in Rwanda: Opportunities and Challenges of the Community Participation for a Sustainable Conservation -Case Study of Nyungwe National Park. International journal of environmental protection and policy. Vol. 7, No. 2, 2019. 61-71. DOI: 10.11648/ j. i jepp. 20190702. 13 USAID 2008. Biodiversity Conservation and Crisis. II. Questions asked to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) Representatives.
  39. What are the major achievements for your organization concerning the Gorilla and park conservation?
  40. Are the mountain gorillas increasing or decreasing in number? how many are they today in comparison to previous years?
  41. What do you think are the reasons behind the increase or decrease in their number?
  42. What are the challenges for the Mountain gorilla conservation and the VNP conservation in general?
  43. To what extent poaching is regarded as a threat to the conservation of VNP? How the number of poaching cases has been evolving?
  44. What are other human activities or Non-human activities (if any) that affect both the park and gorilla conservation?
  45. Generally, what are your opinions of community engagement in the Gorilla and VNP conservation?
  46. How do you think the local community's conservation mindset is growing?
  47. From your perspective, how do you think the conservation activities affect the community adjacent to the VNP either positively or negatively?
  48. Do you think the local community has been provided with the necessities in exchange to what they were used to find in the park?
  49. Rwanda is one of the countries where tourism activities are conducted in protected areas like National Parks, what do you think are drawbacks and benefits of tourism for 12. The conservation of the mountain gorillas and VNP in general? 13. The development for the community around the park?
  50. What kind of partnership/collaboration do you have with other institutions or organizations such as RDB, Local government, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC), other National parks of the Virunga massif?
  51. From your perspectives, how do you view the goals of tourism development; conservation and the local community development in the context of the VNP and its surroundings?
  52. How do you think these goals can be combined?
  53. How is your organisation contributing to the achievement of the three goals? 18. Concerning the COVID-19, the ongoing pandemic that has been declared to be a Public Health of Emergency of International Concern,
  54. How has it affected your job personally and the organization you work for? 20. How the conservation activities are affected so far by the virus?
  55. How do you think the pandemic will affect the conservation activities in the future?