Social issues and concerns in biodiversity conservation: experiences from wildlife protected areas in India

There has been a growing realization that the conventional 'Gun and Guard' method of conservation is no more effective in dealing with the socio-ecological complexity and political dimensions of biodiversity conservation. Handling these challenges require an integrated approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems and attempts to link science, policy and societal goals through interdisciplinary methods of problem solving and multi-stakeholder decision making. The ecodevelopment approach currently being promoted in India by the government agencies seeks to promote social change in the fringe villages in order to secure full participation of the local communities in biodiversity conservation by their capacity building and finding ecologically sound and culturally appropriate means of livelihoods for achieving sustainable development. Using examples of best field practices from selected protected areas, this paper presents a framework for an integrated approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of local communities that combines the strengths of community-based studies and science of landscape management through a process of social learning and trans-disciplinary inquiry.