ECONOMICS, OBJECTIVES, AND SUCCESS OF PRIVATE NATURE-RESERVES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND LATIN-AMERICA

Current efforts for habitat protection, based largely on government ef forts to establish Protected areas, are not keeping pace with biodiver sity loss. The conservation community must explore means for in situ p rotection that supplement existing government efforts. One possibility Is the privately owned nature reserve. In this descriptive study a wr itten survey of privately own ed nature reserves in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America was undertaken to identify their economic attribute s, initial objectives, and factors necessary for attaining those objec tives. Data from 32 managers of private reserves revealed that reserve s can be a profitable venture. Over half were realizing a profit, and profitability among reserves had risen 21% since 1989. Despite this ec onomic success, they proved to be motivated more by conservation goals than by personal or economic objectives. Overall the respondents rank ed management factors more important than geographic, social/political , financial, or stochastic factors for accomplishing reserves' objecti ves. The presence of ''interesting ecological attractions'' was rated the single most important factor and those factors relating to governm ent involvement were considered least important. The results show priv ate reserves to be an important albeit little-known example of private -sector involvement in conservation. The results also provide a useful analysis for those interested in private reserves, those currently op erating them, and those wishing to establish them.