Kashwan, Prakash. 2006. "Does Tribal Governance Matter to Tigers? Exploring Wildlife Conservation - Local Governance Linkages in the Kanha National Park Region in India." Presented at "Survival of the Commons: Mounting Challenges and New Realities," the Eleventh Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Bali, Indonesia, June 19-23, 2006.

Abstract

"Based on author's empirical research, this paper argues that conservation efforts are not served well by a continued reliance on protectionist and exclusionary measures amidst an all pervasive rhetoric in the favor of decentralizing natural resource management in general. In doing so, the paper underlines how a narrow focus on wildlife protection undermines local governance systems, which in turn weakens the efficacy of conservation efforts. Based on extensive fieldwork carried out by the author in and around Kanha National Park in India, and discussions held with numerous actors- communities, district administration, local government representatives, political leaders, forest department, NGOs, mass movements, and ecotourism operators- the paper argues in favor of revisiting wildlife conservation strategies to accommodate concerns of diverse stakeholders. The paper offers insights on diversity of views on the way forward in wildlife conservation within the ranks of wildlife establishment, and explores reasons for the status-quo despite significant evidence against it. Finally, the paper discusses policy implications for sustainable conservation of natural resources."