Designing Conservation Projects

There are many challenges involved in protecting biodiversity in tropical terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and conservation projects teach many practical lessons. The procedures and attitudes of governments, NGOs, donor agencies, development banks and consulting firms are crucial. These key topics are all dealt with, drawing on the author's extensive experience with conservation projects he designed in Sarawak, Nigeria, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Costa Rica. Project descriptions illustrate two important themes in conservation: increasing the awareness of the economic value of biodiversity among decision makers, and enabling and encouraging local people to participate in designing and implementing projects. The book sets out guidelines to help others design projects that are practical and effective, yet more complete and more robust than some of those designed in the recent past and will be useful to professionals in environmental biology, conservation, and land use policy. What are the challenges involved in protecting biodiversity in tropical terrestrial and coastal ecosystems? What practical lessons can be learned from conservation projects? And what are the procedures and attitudes of governments, NGOs, donor agencies, development banks, and consulting firms? These key questions are all answered, drawing on the author's extensive experience of conservation projects in Malaysia, Nigeria, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Costa Rica, and elsewhere. Project descriptions are used to illustrate the growth of two important themes in conservation: increasing the awareness of the economic value of biodiversity among decision makers; and enabling and encouraging local people to participate in designing and implementing projects. An account of conservation in action across tropical Asia, Africa and Latin America, written by a field conservationist. It contains detailed guidelines on how to analyse and solve problems that affect the survival of species, ecosystems and the ways of life of traditional peoples.