Share this item

Connect with Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Contact this content partner to get more information about this item.

Indigenous Control of Tropical Rain-Forest Reserves: An Alternative Strategy for Conservation

Description:
Several mechanisms have been used to acquire land for tropical-forest reservations. Legislative designation of National Parks on government-owned land, condemnation of private land, debt swaps, and outright purchase of private lands for reserves may, however, be inappropriate strategies in areas occupied by extant indigenous populations. In areas where indigenous peoples have a strong conservation ethic, the creation of reserves under partial or complete aboriginal control represents a viable alternative to the more traditional forms of land acquisition. Recently, three significant rain-forest reserves were created in Samoa using alternative strategies. 1) A US National Park in American Samoa involves the long-term lease of customary lands with local chiefs forming an advisory board on park policy; 2) in the Falealupo peninsula in Western Samoa, a covenant was established between the villagers who pledged to preserve and manage a large rain forest and private donors who provided funds for the construction of an elementary school; 3) in Tafua, Western Samoa, a covenant was established between the village, which vowed to preserve and manage the forest, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SNF) which provided funds for an elementary school and public works. These reserves suggest that under indigenous control robust solutions to the problems of rain-forest preservation can be achieved.
Display date:
1999
Collections:
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Publisher:
Springer, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Content partner:
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Availability:
Not specified
Remember or recognise anything about this item? Let us know!

We would love to share your stories, thoughts, and memories on digitalpasifik.org

Contribute your story
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
Welcome and warm Pasifik greetings

The information on this site has been gathered from our content partners.

The names, terms, and labels that we present on the site may contain images or voices of deceased persons and may also reflect the bias, norms, and perspective of the period of time in which they were created. We accept that these may not be appropriate today.

If you have any concerns or questions about an item, please contact us.