Integrating conservation and development: the role of local people in the the maintenance of protected areas in Madagascar

In Madagascar, as throughout the world, protected areas were originally created with little consideration for local people. Conflicts have arisen as people continue to use resources within protected areas. A recent approach, integrated conservation and development, aims to provide alternative resources or other benefits to local people and promote local sustainable management of resources to alleviate pressure on protected areas.

At two sites, Andohahela and Soalala, studies were conducted in two villages per site. Energetic, economic, cultural and ecological influences on resource use were investigated. Energy expenditure, resulting from distance travelled and effort required for extraction, limits resources used and collection zones in these primarily subsistence populations. Some commodities are traded, but the effort required for transport limits trade. Cultural influences, both traditional and political, also have a strong impact on resource use and management, for example resulting in apparently disadvantageous trade in rice for cattle immediately after harvest.

The species used and approximate amounts of resources extracted from different habitat types are documented for each site. Some local practices have a major impact on biodiversity, for example at both sites uncontrolled burning, often started for pasture regeneration, is a threat to forest areas. Extraction of locally important resources, such as wood and other materials for house and boat construction, tubers in periods of food shortage and plants used medicinally and ritually, have less impact. Resource management initiatives are proposed that take account of relative environmental impact, energetic, economic and cultural values of resources to local people, traditional management practices and social organisation. I conclude that development activities to maintain a protected area should integrate natural resource and cultural issues so that activities are directed at local practices with most impact on biodiversity and enable the social mechanisms and institutions for lasting conservation.