Natural Resource Dependency and Decentralized Conservation Within Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project,Nepal |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Pete?ParkerEmail author Brijesh?Thapa |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Tourism, Recreation & Sport Management, Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8208, USA;(2) Present address: McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada |
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Abstract: | Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) in Nepal is among the first protected areas in the world to institute a completely
decentralized system of conservation and development. Proponents of decentralized conservation claim that it increases management
efficiency, enhances the responsiveness to local needs, and promotes greater equity among local residents. This study assessed
local equity by evaluating the levels of dependencies on natural resources among households and the factors affecting that
dependency. Data were collected via detailed surveys among 205 randomly selected households within the KCAP. Natural resource
dependency was evaluated by comparing the ratio of total household income to income derived from access to natural resources.
Economic, social, and access-related variables were employed to determine potential significant predictors of dependency.
Overall, households were heavily dependent on natural resources for their income, especially households at higher elevations
and those with more adult members. The households that received remittances were most able to supplement their income and,
therefore, drastically reduced their reliance on the access to natural resources. Socio-economic variables, such as land holdings,
education, caste, and ethnicity, failed to predict dependency. Household participation in KCAP-sponsored training programs
also failed to affect household dependency; however, fewer than 20% of the households had any form of direct contact with
KCAP personnel within the past year. The success of the KCAP as a decentralized conservation program is contingent on project
capacity-building via social mobilization, training programs, and participatory inclusion in decision making to help alleviate
the dependency on natural resources. |
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