Collaborative Wildlife Management and Changing Social Contexts in Peru, 2001-2003

This project explored the implications of social change for collaborative approaches to conservation, through an analysis and participatory review of one case study, the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Communal Reserve in Amazonian Peru, and an overview of the Peruvian communal reserve system as a whole. Over the past twenty years, many conservationists have moved from a policy of excluding local communities from protected areas to one of collaborating with them. However, there is a growing backlash against this approach, partly because of concern that collaborative approaches will not survive processes of social change particularly population growth and increasing demand for consumer goods. This project informed the debate by examining implications of these processes for an established collaborative initiative. Specifically, it explored changes in settlement patterns and social organisation, attitudes to natural resource use, and attitudes to the Reserve itself over the past 25 years, and tracked their influence on the evolution of co-management. This mixed methods data collection includes qualitative life histories of the residents of three communities, and quantitative demographic data.<br> <br> Further information about the project and links to publications may be found on the <a href="http://www.esrcsocietytoday/esrcinfocentre/viewawardpage.aspx?awardnumber=RES-000-22-0242" title="Collaborative Wildlife Management and Changing Social Contexts">Collaborative Wildlife Management and Changing Social Contexts</a> web page.