First regional workshop
7 May 2002
Summary of discussion from day two
Working groups and discussions on day two focused on two questions:
- What are the key regional issues for protected areas and economic
planning (eg. water, trade, and transboundary ecosystems)?
- What are the strategies for dealing with these issues on a regional
National lessons learned
Each country delegation presented the results of its analysis of the
national experience with protected areas and development over the past
ten years. The presentations provided an overview of the respective protected
area systems, outlined important trends over the past ten years looking
at the issues involved in linking protected areas with development on
an achievements and remaining challenges basis.
Key issues covered in the Lao presentation included the comprehensive
nature of the protected area system and the GoL's progressive policy of
participatory management. The challenges highlighted were the economic
situation in Lao PDR, the lack of capacity at all levels and the need
for provincial planning to include the functions and linkage with protected
areas. The significant potential for hydropower development in Lao PDR
and the links with PAs was also outlined. Other development sectors discussed
were ecotourism, NTFPs and Fisheries and the role of Integrated Conservation
and Development Projects (ICDPs) in exploring ways of integrating PAs
into economic planning.
The Thai presentation highlighted the growing environmental awareness
in Thailand and the changes in legislation reflecting this public awareness.
The current commitment to expand Thailand's PA system to cover 25% of
the country was emphasised, as were initiative to monitor development
impacts on protected areas and involve local communities in planning and
managing protected areas. The zoning of protected areas for conservation
and sustainable use was considered a critical strategy. Key achievements
include the expansion of reserve system, development of management plans,
community involvement, the adoption of the concept of sustainable multiple
use and the integration of PA management in the 5 year national development
plan. Key challenges include management capacity, confused status of land
ownership, designation of core zones in multiple use areas, good scientific
knowledge for management, inconsistent legal framework, interdepartmental
co-operation, development of good multiple use pilot projects and pressure
for economic over environmental objectives.
The Vietnam presentation looked at the issues involved in integrating
protected areas and economic planning, stakeholder participation in protected
area management, adopting appropriate models for protected area management,
filling knowledge gaps and funding mechanisms for protected areas. The
key achievements were expansion of PA system, improved policy and planning
framework, piloting of new approaches to stakeholder involvement, increased
awareness and experience in implementing conservation projects, development
of PA investment plans and institutional structures. Some key challenges
include better integration of sectoral interests, engaging stakeholders,
ecological viability of the many small and isolated PAs, diversifying
management approaches, management capacity, scientific information base
for managers and funding.
The Cambodian presentation highlighted the expansion of the PA system,
the importance placed on poverty alleviation as a national priority, and
the need for a national legal framework and policies on PAs. Key economic
sectors receiving PA benefits were identified as forestry, fisheries,
agriculture, tourism, water, energy, health, transport and rural development.
Key achievements include the development of an institutional framework
for PAs, piloting of community forests and fisheries, development of master
plan for tourism and PAs, link between water supply and PAs, potential
for hydro development, and the establishment of provincial and municipal
PA conflict resolution sub committees. Some key challenges include illegal
logging, hunting and NTFP collection, damaging fishing methods, over fishing,
encroachment of agriculture, recognition of the benefits provided by PAs
to water management, environmental assessment of hydro schemes, affect
of transport infrastructure on PAs, co-management, and the wildlife trade.
Summary of key points raised during discussions following presentation
of the national lessons papers.
- Generally, there is a need to examine the selection criteria for protected
areas across all countries - the number of categories allowing for varying
intensities of use needs to be expanded. The controls on use are too
restrictive and are contributing to the illegal degradation of the PA
system rather than better conservation.
- The involvement of the private sector through various systems of concessions
in protected areas, for example for tourism, is in its infancy in the
region and needs to be piloted and expanded.
- In all countries, better cooperation between PA managers and line
ministries is needed. In Cambodia, specific suggestions were the Ministry
of Women's Affairs and the Ministry of Land Use Planning and Construction.
- Information sharing among countries in the region concerning PAs is
important, particularly for forest management and wildlife harvesting
in and around PAs. The three key groups that should be involved in the
development of sustainable use practices in the forestry sector are
government agencies, private sector and local communities - each of
these actors should be involved in the definition of regimes of protection
and use for all forest systems.
- The criteria for the siting of fish sanctuaries needs to be more fully
developed in all countries. Some sanctuaries are not located to bring
optimum benefits to the rehabilitation of fish stocks and habitats.
For example, year-round water is not necessarily a useful criteria in
areas where seasonal inundation is critical to breeding and nurseries.
- It has been shown in commercial fisheries that by removing the largest
individuals, you end up selecting for a smaller sized fish population
and forcing younger spawning. Therefore, restrictions are needed so
that the largest fish in the population are not removed. An example
is with a striped bass fishery on the E. coast of the U.S. where there
are minimum and maximum size limits.
- Some governments have no clear legal framework for charging fees for
nationals and internationals to enter protected areas and for the subsequent
use of that revenue stream. In all four countries, most income from
PA tourism is not invested back in the targeted protected areas.
- The challenge of achieving both poverty reduction and conservation
was of central concern to all countries. Increasingly, PAs would be
assessed for the contribution they make to poverty reduction. A goal
should be to have PA benefits and associated revenue flow back to the
local communities as well as to effective conservation management. For
this reason, the Government of Cambodia recently made a commitment to
setting aside up to 30% of all protected areas for co-management with
local communities. In areas where there is tourism potential, ecotourism
can provide job opportunities and alternative income streams. In Thailand,
people who live around protected areas are able to sell items such as
NTFPs to local and foreign tourists, as well as to serve as tourist
guides. In Cambodia, approximately 60% of rangers are recruited from
local communities. In one protected area, people can collect and sell
NTFPs. There should be consideration by government regarding what portion
of protected area revenues should flow back to local communities. Funds
from protected areas should be used to support community infrastructure.
In Vietnam, it is required by national legislation that whenever protected
areas are proposed, they must include plans for resettlement of people
and the establishment of buffer zones, in order to reduce pressure on
the core zone. There are also government programmes for people in and
around protected areas, such as rural credits and job creation.
- Thailand has a system for collecting revenues from protected area
visitors and for collecting fines. These revenues are used for development
of park facilities. With government decentralisation, 5% of this income
also now goes to subdistricts.
- Protected areas can provide only limited income generation opportunities
- false expectations should not be raised.
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Review of protected areas and their role in socio-economic development
in the four countries of the lower Mekong River region
page updated: 29/05/02