Parks, people, and paradigms: Protected areas in Ecuador and Botswana

Within the theoretical concepts informing the development community in recent years there has been a paradigm shift away from neoclassical models toward other ideas, those containing "sustainable development" and "Alternative" components. Concurrently in the conservation field, there is an analogous shift from the traditional "Environmental Protection" model to one characterized by sustainable utilization, or the "Resource Management" paradigm; there also have been theoretical advances toward "Eco-Development" and other elements of the Alternative paradigm. This dissertation seeks to make an in-depth study of major threats to, and some international and domestic interests affecting the establishment and maintenance of, protected areas (national parks, wildlife reserves, etc.) in the developing nations. The research agenda aims at identifying the fundamental causes of protected area problems. Two primary cases have been selected for study: Galapagos National Park in Ecuador, and Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. They are buttressed by examples taken also from Yasuni and Chobe National Parks in Ecuador and Botswana, respectively. Galapagos is characterized by problems associated with human ecology, while Moremi is threatened by possible water offtake from the Okavango Delta. Drawing upon the empirical evidence contained in the case studies, the author seeks to develop conclusions which may have broader applications. Two important findings are: (1) that there is a notable disconnect between the more advanced theoretical paradigms embodying sustainability and based upon popular participation, and the reality of current protected area management, which largely continues to be based upon exclusionist conservation models in the traditional "Environmental Protection" mold; and (2) that most human-caused protected area problems ultimately derive from political, economic, and social inequalities. The study also validates or disproves certain conventional wisdom concerning the influence of international and domestic factors, especially non-governmental organizations and indigenous organizations, on the apparent conflict between development and conservation. This information may be of use in addressing policy-related questions about the role and management of protected areas in sustainable development.