Nielsen, Helena Marie (2021) Integrating Community-based Conservation and Development. A Comparative Case Study of Forest Conservation Projects in Ethiopia and Cambodia. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
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Abstract
International development aid has become subject to scrutiny, as a number of large-scale projects have failed, alienating communities through top-down implementation, and a lack of long-term commitment. Reflecting on these experiences, community-based projects have been increasingly acknowledged as a more effective method to foster sustainable development. However, policy-makers are not only faced with the challenge of improving livelihoods, but also the onset of climate change impacts, which are threatening marginalised communities in the Global South. Consequently, there is a need for development projects that effectively combine livelihood improvement with conservation strategies. It remains unclear, however, how these two targets can be married, which strategies can foster their success, and which methods prove counterproductive. To answer these questions, an extensive literature review has been conducted, analysing practices suggested by theory and experiences gained so far. To test the findings on their validity and identify novel approaches, a comparative case study of community-based forest conservation projects in Ethiopia and Cambodia was performed. The research reveals that locally-based projects are more effective than top-down strategies, as they aim to draw from communities’ skills and resources, for the benefit of all members. Key strategies were identified fostering the success of community-based development and conservation projects, including iterative project designs, community-led and -created management institutions, and sustained capacity building. Critical challenges remain in regards to income generation and the equal distribution of benefits among community members. Based on these findings, a number of recommendations for development practitioners and policy-makers are drawn, including the diversification of income-generating activities, the establishment of knowledge infrastructures, and better representation of indigenous experiences in research.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Name supervisor: | Belloir, A.C. and Berg, C.F. van den |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Sep 2021 08:45 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2021 08:45 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/81 |
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