FEATURE
scientists have focused their efforts on the “high, hard ground” of species and ecosystem conservation (location, status, why important) (Salafsky et al. 2002). However, scientists have ignored the larger and more difficult “human” issues of conservation that reside in the “swampy lowlands”. For instance, do local communities benefit from ecotourism in national parks (Vaughan 1999). According to Salafsky et al. (2002) several crucial questions remained: (a) what should conservation goals be, (b) how can we take action to achieve conservation, and (c) who are the people and groups that make conservation happen?
I had the opportunity to address the above questions while working with an endangered species in Costa Rica since the 1990’s. This paper considered how strategic planning resulted in a Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) conservation plan which was carried out by a conservation organization specifically set up for this purpose. I examined the what, how and who in tracing the evolution of Scarlet Macaw conservation project.
Study site, human and Scarlet Macaw populations Costa Rica, National Parks and social issues During the 1970’s and 80’s, Costa Rica created a worldclass wildlands system, consisting of 29% of the national territory (14 500 km2) in 78 protected and private areas (Umaña & Brandon 1992). However, by the early 1990s, the wildlands system and its biological riches were increasingly threatened by adjacent human communities. Facing similar wildland problems as those outlined above, Costa Rica also adopted a “sustainable development” approach and created the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) to manage its 78 wildlands and surrounding zones, as nine regional areas. This system promoted participation by all groups sharing the common objective of preservation, restoration, and protection of ecological equilibrium and biodiversity.
Eventually, SINAC wanted civil society and local communities to become responsible for management, concessions and
Facing similar wildland problems as those outlined above, Costa Rica also adopted a “sustainable development” approach and created the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) to manage its 78 wildlands and surrounding zones, as nine regional areas. This system promoted participation by all groups sharing the common objective of preservation, restoration, and protection of ecological equilibrium and biodiversity.
BIRD SCENE 43
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