Rethinking entrenched narratives about protected areas and human wellbeing in the Global South

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Development Studies
• Social Equity

Background:

• Linking human development and biodiversity conservation in protected areas (PAs) relies on simplifying narratives.
• These narratives shape conservation intervention design and implementation, impacting local communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the evidence supporting five key narratives linking conservation and human development.
• To assess the validity of assumptions regarding conservation's impact on poverty, compensation, participation, and land tenure.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method synthesis was employed.
• Included a systematic review of 100 peer-reviewed papers and 25 expert interviews.

Main Results:

• The narratives 'conservation is pro-poor,' 'poverty reduction benefits conservation,' and 'compensation neutralizes conservation costs' are largely unsupported.
• Exclusionary PAs can reduce material poverty but incur significant wellbeing costs, disproportionately affecting the poorest.
• Compensation is often insufficient and fails to address experienced injustices.
• Evidence more strongly supports narratives on the benefits of local participation and secure tenure rights for conservation.

Conclusions:

• Effective conservation requires shifting power to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
• Future PA expansion must integrate social equity and accountability to address conservation actors' impacts.