People, Parks and Biodiversity: Issues in Population-Environment Dynamics

This overview paper broadly addresses the complex relationship between biodiversity, people and protected areas. The authors see three main reasons why the relationship is problematic: first, biological diversity ("biodiversity") is a new concept and "somewhat imprecise in its scientific and policy implications;" second, until recently, people have been excluded from conservation efforts; third, demographic information does not provide information relevant to protected areas. The second point is stressed by many of the authors and is crucial: protected areas should not be places "set aside" as isolated areas - people must be included in conservation efforts and enjoy the benefits derived from them. In addition to pointing out the lack of information and difficulties in addressing the biodiversity, population and protected areas relationship, the authors pose a series of suggested research questions. For example, since no easily identifiable measure of biodiversity exists, there is no baseline against which future changes can be assessed. How, then, can biodiversity be measures and change be assessed? How can knowledge about population dynamics be applied to protected areas and biodiversity? What natural and social conditions determine the processes that affect biodiversity in rural areas undergoing population decline? What new methods can be developed to learn more about people and biodiversity in the case of small, low density population patterns? This paper also describes the system of categories of protected areas developed by IUCN in 1994. This system, designed to promote a more positive relationship between people and protected areas, includes the following categories: 1.Strict Nature Reserve/Wilderness Area 2.National Park 3.Natural Monument 4.Habitat/Species Management Area 5.Protected Landscape/Seascape 6.Managed Resource Protected AreaOne basic conclusion that this system points out is that different regions have dealt with protected areas in very different ways. More importantly, strict protection is not necessary in all cases to conserve biodiversity but may be necessary in other cases. The main point is that protected areas will prosper only if they are supported by the public, the private sector, and the full range of governmental agencies. [Author's abstract]