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Evaluating biodiversity conservation around a large Sumatran protected area

Linkie, Matthew, Smith, Robert J., Zhu, Yu, Martyr, Deborah J., Suedmeyer, Beth, Pramono, Joko, Leader-Williams, Nigel (2008) Evaluating biodiversity conservation around a large Sumatran protected area. Conservation Biology, 22 (3). pp. 683-690. ISSN 0888-8892. (doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00906.x) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:10064)

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00906.x

Abstract

Many of the large, donor-funded community-based conservation projects that seek to reduce biodiversity loss in the tropics have been unsuccessful. There is, therefore, a need for empirical evaluations to identify the driving factors and to provide evidence that supports the development of context-specific conservation projects. We used a quantitative approach to measure, post hoc, the effectiveness of a US$19 million Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP) that sought to reduce biodiversity loss through the development of villages bordering Kerinci Seblat National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia, We focused on the success of the ICDP component that disbursed a total of US$1.5 million through development grants to 66 villages in return for their commitment to stop illegally clearing the forest. To investigate whether the ICDP lowered deforestation rates in focal villages, we selected a subset of non-ICDP villages that bad similar physical and socioeconomic features and compared their respective deforestation rates. Village participation in the ICDP and its development schemes had no effect on deforestation. Instead, accessible areas where village land-tenure had been undermined by the designation of selective-logging concessions tended to have the highest deforestation rates. Our results indicate that the goal of the ICDP was not met and, furthermore, suggest that both law enforcement inside the park and local property rights outside the park need to be strengthened. Our results also emphasize the importance of quantitative approaches in helping to inform successful and cost-effective strategies for tropical biodiversity conservation.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.00906.x
Uncontrolled keywords: deforestation; integrated conservation and development projects; Kerinci Seblat National Park; land tenure
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Bob Smith
Date Deposited: 12 Mar 2009 13:50 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:48 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/10064 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Linkie, Matthew.

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Smith, Robert J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1599-9171
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Zhu, Yu.

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Leader-Williams, Nigel.

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