Trade-offs Among Multiple Goals for Transboundary Conservation

by Charles Besançon

Trade-offs Among Multiple Goals for Transboundary Conservation

by Charles Besançon

What do we know?

at least 188 internationally adjoining protected area complexes (Besançon and Savy, 2005)

Spanning the borders of 122 countries Multiple objectives

biodiversity conservation; cultural heritage and exchange; international cooperation; maintenance of peace and security; promotion of sustainable development; regional economic integration; restitution of land tenure; local economic development; poverty alleviation, etc.

Transboundary Conservation Objectives

Paper concentrated on two issues– New typology– Need for further development of frameworks

for assessing peace and security impacts This presentation

– Typology– Lessons learned from the Transboundary

Virunga-Bwindi region

Where are we going?

1. Transboundary protected areas

2. Transboundary conservation and development areas

3. Parks for Peace

4. Transboundary migratory corridors

A typology of transboundary conservation practice

Transboundary protected areas

“A transboundary protected area is an area of land and/or sea that straddles one or more borders between states, sub-national units such as provinces and regions, autonomous areas and/or areas beyond the limit of national sovereignty or jurisdiction, whose constituent parts are especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed co-operatively through legal or other effective means.”

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Transboundary conservation and development areas

“Transboundary conservation and development areas are areas of land and/or sea that straddle one or more borders between states, sub-national units such as provinces and regions, autonomous areas and/or areas beyond the limit of national sovereignty or jurisdiction, whose constituent parts form a matrix that contributes to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, as well as the promotion of social and economic development, and which are managed co-operatively through legal or other effective means.” Maloti-Drakensberg TBCDA

Parks for peace

“Parks for Peace are transboundary protected areas that are formally dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and to the promotion of peace and cooperation”

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Transboundary migratory corridors

“Transboundary migratory corridors are areas of land and/or sea in two or more countries, which are not necessarily contiguous, but are required to sustain a biological migratory pathway, and where co-operative management has been secured through legal or other effective means.”

European Greenbelt

Utilizes a regional approach to protecting mountain gorillas and the afro-montane habitat they live in

Organizes transboundary activities such as

– regional meetings;– joint patrols; and – joint monitoring

Addresses threats to the ecosystem through promoting sustainable development programmes

International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP)

Can peace parks build peace and/or protect the environment?

What determines their success and/or failure?

Recommendations for policymakers

Questions and conclusions

Can peace parks build peace and/or protect the environment?

Yes Possible to do both How?

– Through strengthening institutional structures (PAAs)

– third party mediation– Operating in ‘neutral’ space– Locally-based– Offering incentives other than strict

protection of resources (tourism)– Example specific to IGCP: through

organization of regional meetings, joint ranger patrols, trainings and monitoring.

Can peace parks build peace and/or protect the environment?

Militia/military effects are context specific Uganda

– In Bwindi and Mgahinga: SWIFT patrols are military with tourist sensitization

– ‘Militarization of the environment’ Rwanda

– Military reinforces government control of protected areas

In DRC– Local defense forces not paid salary. May be

very destabilizing– Presence of other foreign troops may bring

stability because they are disciplined and want to see continued gorilla tourism

They minimize raids by rogue groups and Interahamwe

Can peace parks build peace and/or protect the environment?

But - Also true that conservation may contribute toward conflict How?

– By increasing socio-economic inequalities – or fueling the belief that such inequalities are increasing

– By benefiting certain groups more than others Cultural/subcultural Ethnic Socio-political Socio-economic Gender, etc.

– By increasing competition for development resources & political control– By limiting access to lands that provide some aspect of livelihoods in times of

severe strain– By introducing new structures that challenge existing ones (social, political, or

economic)

What determines their success and/or failure?

Strong and resilient network of institutions and organizations with common purpose

In this case – 3rd party actors in transboundary coordination role

– Failures can result from one party being too dominating

Must have peace to maintain peace

Helpful to have charismatic mega-fauna that looks like us (good marketing)

Recommendations for policy makers

Transboundary conservation is a very slow and deliberate process

Design structures specific to the project area

Create flexible processes in case of conflicts (many types)

Must develop new tools for measurement of impacts

Trade-offs are inherent when you have both conservation and social goals

Complex context means a need to build strong networks to share experiences and disseminate best practice information

The end

charles.besancon@gmail.com