THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF BUFFER ZONES AND LOCAL-PARTICIPATION IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Recognition is growing that the successful management of protected are as ultimately depends on the cooperation and support of local people. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in financial support f or projects attempting to link the conservation of biodiversity in pro tected areas with local social and economic development. Drawing on ou r recent analysis of 23 integrated conservation-development projects ( ICDPs) in 14 developing countries, this paper explores the challenges which have arisen in operationalizing two key concepts which lie at th e heart of community-based conservation. First, buffer zones around pa rk boundaries. Second, greater participation of local people in conser vation and development. We describe important practical constraints wh ich have so far limited the effective implementation of these two conc epts. But-despite some critical constraints operating outside individu al projects' sphere of influence-we conclude that innovative, well-des igned projects at carefully selected protected area sites that constru ctively address local people-park relationships will be essential to t he conservation of biodiversity, and thus to sustainable development.