Community-Based Conservation (CBC) refers to wildlife conservation efforts that involve rural people as an integral part of a wildlife conservation policy. In Africa and specifically in Cameroon, there have been changes in state policies towards natural resources management particularly forest resources. This study deals basically on Cameroon, with national forest cover of over 42% which constitutes one of its major economic resources. Since 1995, a new forest policy act was enacted (proclaimed in 1994) to accommodate two approaches, that is, Community Forestry and sustainable forest management. Conserving and enhancing biodiversity through rural peoples’ involvement was one of the components of the new forest policy act of 1995. The study analyses the conditions under which the CBC policies can be successfully implemented in Cameroon, with the case of the Korup National Park (KNP) and its support zone and the former Korup Project (KP). It also investigates the interest and the relationship of the different stakeholders concerned, especially the local community.
The thesis uses three hypotheses (which are limited to CBC), semi-structured questionnaires and secondary data to test or investigate successful policy implementation in the KNP by analysing, (i) the role the local communities, (ii) the international environmental NGOs and groups played in the former Korup Project (1988-2003) and (iii) the level of biodiversity conservation and rural development in the Korup Project Area (KPA). The study was carried out in the southern sector of the KNP with a simple-random sampling of 78 respondents out of 11 villages of the 32 villages in and around the National Park.
The results indicate: (i) low participation of the local communities in the Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP) and later joint participatory biodiversity conservation and rural development approach of the KP, (ii) a difficult relationship between the international stakeholders and the local communities, and (iii) a temporary success in biodiversity conservation and a failure in rural development.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Problem setting
1.2 Objectives
1.3 Importance of the study
1.4 Scope and limitations of the study
2 COUNTRY AND AREA BACKGROUND
2.1 The Government of Cameroon (GoC)
2.2 Korup National Park (KNP)
2.3 The Korup Project (KP)
3 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
3.1 Theoretical concepts
3.2 Hypotheses
3.3 Conceptual framework
4 LITERATURE REVIEW
4.1 Trend towards linking livelihood and conservation
4.2 The arguments behind local community involvement
4.3 Role of national/international environmental NGOs and communities in ICDPs
4.4 Biodiversity conservation and rural development
4.5 Economic and other incentives
5 EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
5.1 Research methods
5.2 Research design and survey procedure
5.3 Field research instruments
5.4 Sample Design
5.5 Data collection
6 RESULTS PRESENTATION AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
6.1 Research findings
6.2 Interpretation of the findings
6.2.1 Results to Hypothesis 1
6.2.2 Results to Hypothesis 2
6.2.3 Results to Hypothesis 3
7 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 Discussion
7.2 Conclusions
7.3 Recommendations
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Community-Based Conservation (CBC) policies within the Korup National Park and its peripheral support zone in Cameroon, specifically investigating the role of Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) in balancing biodiversity protection with rural community development.
- Analysis of policy implementation and institutional frameworks in CBC.
- Evaluation of the relationship and interaction between local communities, the government, and international NGOs.
- Assessment of the socio-economic impacts of the former Korup Project (KP) on local livelihoods.
- Examination of the efficacy of traditional conservation methods alongside modern management strategies.
- Identification of critical success factors for future community-based biodiversity projects.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Problem setting
Community-Based Conservation (CBC) management is gaining grounds year after year in Cameroon propagated by international and national NGOs, the Cameroon government and local communities. Community forests, gazetted areas like forest reserves and national parks have been created with the consultation of local and indigenous populations. International and state financed projects and programmes have been carried out in the last two decades to sustainably manage and conserve biodiversity through the communities involved.
The KNP stands as a model, with conflicts and harmony for the implementation of a variety of biological diversity conservation policies in Cameroon. Since its inception in 1986, the KNP has seen many changes in policy implementation, from state control, through support of environmental NGOs with Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs), sustainable and participatory natural resource management, with local community involvement.
Since the onset of the idea of a national park in Korup, the creation of the KNP itself and the Korup Project (KP, the main interest of the study) that followed, much research and surveys have been carried out to review the formulation, planning and implementation of policies in the Korup Project Area (KPA, which is the KNP and its support zone). This however, has not really led to outstanding results to set an example to other park managements. And as Ruth Malleson (2000:295) in her dissertation described, “the KP’s socio-economic survey provided much important information and sound recommendations; but the project’s failure to make use of it and revise its rural development strategy in the light of the findings meant that the project continued to make poor progress and errors that could have been avoided”. How far this failure contributes to the end results of the KP and influences the continuous management of the KNP, with the importance of information flow in rational resource management and planning will be analyzed by this study.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Discusses the shift in Cameroon's forest policy towards community-based approaches and defines the problem of policy implementation in the Korup National Park context.
2 COUNTRY AND AREA BACKGROUND: Provides a geopolitical overview of Cameroon and historical details of the Korup National Park and the Korup Project.
3 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: Outlines the core concepts of CBC and ICDPs, sets up the research hypotheses, and introduces the conceptual framework for analysis.
4 LITERATURE REVIEW: Explores existing research on the nexus between biodiversity conservation and rural development, including various linkage models.
5 EMPIRICAL RESEARCH: Details the methodologies used for data collection, including survey procedures, sample design in 11 villages, and research instruments.
6 RESULTS PRESENTATION AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Presents quantitative findings from questionnaires and evaluates them against the three central study hypotheses.
7 DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Synthesizes the study's findings to draw conclusions on policy failures and offers recommendations for future community-based conservation initiatives.
Keywords
Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation, Integrated Conservation and Development Project, Korup National Park, Korup Project, local communities, rural development, biodiversity, policy implementation, stakeholder analysis, participatory management, forest resources, Cameroon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The work examines the effectiveness of Community-Based Conservation (CBC) in Cameroon, specifically analyzing how the Korup National Park and its related development project managed to integrate local communities into conservation efforts.
What are the primary themes discussed in this study?
The core themes include the linkage between livelihood and conservation, the role of international and national stakeholders, the impact of participatory rural appraisal, and the challenges of implementing biodiversity policies in protected areas.
What is the main research question or objective?
The primary objective is to analyze the conditions under which CBC initiatives can be successfully implemented in Cameroon, exploring the interests and interactions between the government, international NGOs, and local populations.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study utilizes an empirical research methodology combining quantitative and qualitative data. This includes semi-structured questionnaires, statistical analysis (SPSS) of survey data from 78 respondents across 11 villages, and review of secondary literature.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the theoretical foundations of CBC and ICDPs, a review of relevant literature on linking livelihoods to conservation, the detailed design and implementation of the empirical survey, and a presentation of the findings regarding the impact of the Korup Project.
Which keywords define this work?
The most important keywords include Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation, Integrated Conservation and Development Projects, Korup National Park, Korup Project, and local community participation.
How did the Korup Project impact the local communities?
The research reveals that the project often failed to effectively engage local communities in decision-making, leading to mistrust and a sense of disenfranchisement, despite some small-scale development benefits like school aid.
What is the significance of the "With and Without" principle mentioned?
This principle is used to analyze the impacts of a conservation project by comparing current realities with a hypothetical scenario of the project not existing, helping to distinguish project-induced effects from broader environmental changes.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Yufanyi Movuh Mbolo (Autor:in), 2007, Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation Management , München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/111762
