Underperformance of African protected area networks and the case for new conservation models : insights from Zambia

dc.contributor.authorLindsey, Peter Andrew
dc.contributor.authorNyirenda, Vincent R.
dc.contributor.authorBarnes, Jonathan I.
dc.contributor.authorBecker, Matthew S.
dc.contributor.authorMcRobb, Rachel
dc.contributor.authorTambling, Craig J.
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, William Andrew
dc.contributor.authorWatson, Frederick G.
dc.contributor.authort'Sas-Rolfes, Michael
dc.contributor.editorRusso, Danilo
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-15T11:48:17Z
dc.date.available2014-08-15T11:48:17Z
dc.date.issued2014-05-21
dc.description.abstractMany African protected areas (PAs) are not functioning effectively. We reviewed the performance of Zambia’s PA network and provide insights into how their effectiveness might be improved. Zambia’s PAs are under-performing in ecological, economic and social terms. Reasons include: a) rapidly expanding human populations, poverty and open-access systems in Game Management Areas (GMAs) resulting in widespread bushmeat poaching and habitat encroachment; b) underfunding of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) resulting in inadequate law enforcement; c) reliance of ZAWA on extracting revenues from GMAs to cover operational costs which has prevented proper devolution of user-rights over wildlife to communities; d) on-going marginalization of communities from legal benefits from wildlife; e) under-development of the photo-tourism industry with the effect that earnings are limited to a fraction of the PA network; f) unfavourable terms and corruption which discourage good practice and adequate investment by hunting operators in GMAs; g) blurred responsibilities regarding anti-poaching in GMAs resulting in under-investment by all stakeholders. The combined effect of these challenges has been a major reduction in wildlife densities in most PAs and the loss of habitat in GMAs. Wildlife fares better in areas with investment from the private and/or NGO sector and where human settlement is absent. There is a need for: elevated government funding for ZAWA; greater international donor investment in protected area management; a shift in the role of ZAWA such that they focus primarily on national parks while facilitating the development of wildlife-based land uses by other stakeholders elsewhere; and new models for the functioning of GMAs based on joint-ventures between communities and the private and/or NGO sector. Such joint-ventures should provide defined communities with ownership of land, user-rights over wildlife and aim to attract long-term private/donor investment. These recommendations are relevant for many of the under-funded PAs occurring in other African countries.en_US
dc.description.librarianam2014en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Wildlife Producers Association of Zambia. CJT was funded with a Claude Leon Fellowship.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.plosone.orgen_US
dc.identifier.citationLindsey PA, Nyirenda VR, Barnes JI, Becker MS, McRobb R, et al. (2014) Underperformance of African Protected Area Networks and the Case for New Conservation Models: Insights from Zambia. PLoS ONE 9(5): e94109. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094109.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0094109
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/41346
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_US
dc.rights© 2014 Lindsey et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_US
dc.subjectPerformanceen_US
dc.subjectZambiaen_US
dc.subjectUnderperformanceen_US
dc.subjectGame management area (GMA)en_US
dc.subjectAfrican protected area (PA)en_US
dc.subjectConservationen_US
dc.titleUnderperformance of African protected area networks and the case for new conservation models : insights from Zambiaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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