Balancing the conflict between conservation and human needs

Balancing the conflict between conservation and human needs

1. TERAI REGION, NEPAL

   • Areas are under pressure due to agriculture and urbanisation, over-exploitation of forest resources and grazing of farm animals
   • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) found that rural livelihoods are dependent on the forests and contain many endangered species. The WWF and the Nepalese GVT focused on conservation of the forest landscape as a whole, introduced community forestry initiatives in which locals had rights to exploit the forest as well as responsibilities to look after it. These community groups helped to create forest corridors between national parks which is essential for the dispersal and survival of species in the forest. WWF also introduced efficient wood stoves to reduce the need for firewood. Monitoring endangered species and eradicating invasive species. Overall, successful

2. MAASAI MARA, KENYA

   • Rural livelihoods depend on agriculture. Also has many endangered species
   • Partnerships between conservancies and tourist operators have developed payment for wildlife conservation (PWC). Conservancies are paid PWC revenue proportional to the area of land set aside for conservation- they are successful and have positive social outcomes as well as positive conservation outcomes. There are some negative consequences- must move livestock out during the tourist season and there are other constraints on how they use their land. Limited livestock can have positive benefits

3. PEAT BOGS, UK

   • Can contain a lot of historical data and controlled archeological digs can reveal this info
   • Can provide wetland habitats which have a high biodiversity. There is widespread use of peat bogs as compost- due to agriculture pressure, peat bogs now cover less than 1/10th of what they used to. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) aims to conserve and enhance biodiversity through local level schemes