Using the PA-BAT in rural development projects
Introduction
Rural development generally refers to the process of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of people living in relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Rural development traditionally centered on the exploitation of land/water-intensive natural resource use such as agriculture, forestry and fishing. However, changes in global production networks and increased urbanization have changed the character of rural areas. Increasingly tourism, niche manufacture and recreation have replaced resource extraction and agriculture as the dominant economic drivers. Although challenging, this reorientation of rural life and development offers opportunities for bringing rural development and biodiversity conservation together as partners working towards similar goals, rather than two opposing strategies of intensification and conservation.This ‘new’ rural development is an important tool for reversing the trend of depopulation and land abandonment in many areas.
Sustainable rural development has thus become a much used phrase – but something that remains tough to achieve in reality. Protected areas thus offer an important (although often unrecognised) resource for local communities; in some places they are perhaps the only focus for development in rural areas. Protected areas, at their most effective, offer a central and unifying organisation (with management skills, communications tools, links with government departments etc) which can support local communities to protect their livelihoods and traditions and ensure the future of rural communities. Thus protected areas, although primarily seen as places for biodiversity conservation, have evolved in many of the cultural landscapes and seascapes with high biodiversity value into champions of rural development as the synergistic relationship between conservation and long-term management and use becomes more understood.
One of the main challenges of development is that the distribution of costs and benefits of conservation can be unequal within communities. Getting the balance right is difficult and many of the Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDP) which were very popular at the end of the 20th Century failed to deliver on their objectives. Experience shows that protected areas can deliver effective rural development but only if this is tackled in the right way.
Using the PA-BAT Results
The PA-BAT identifies which legal benefits are, or could be, gained from protected areas. The assessment and the narrative discussion which takes place during the assessment process collects information on the wide variety of values which together reflect the culture and history of communities around the protected area. It also gives managers an idea of how communities feel about the protected area and the extent to which they are willing to collaborate. It is this mix of values protected and benefits received which together contributes to biodiversity outcomes and social cohesion, especially in cultural landscapes and seascapes, and can help identify the current and potential focus for rural development.
The links between the values and benefits of protected areas and rural development generally need to made at a local/regional government authority level if protected areas are to be seen as important assets in rural development policy, planning and funding. However, whilst the enabling policy conditions are probably required for top-down approval, bottom-up locally developed project planning is vital for successful rural development. Some important considerations in relation to rural development are noted below.
- Communicating the role of protected areas: Information sheet 3 discusses using the PA-BAT results in the development of communications strategy. In some areas policies may already be in place which link protected areas and rural development, however this is probably the exception rather than then norm. Where no policies exist the first step in making the links will probably be dependent on developing a working relationship with local government officials. The success of this relationship will depend primarily on the personalities and interests of local officials and protected area officials, and their ability to engage in a dialogue about protected areas. Presentations, short papers, leaflets etc based on the PA-BAT findings can help inform officials about the values and benefits of protected areas. More proactive approaches, such as inviting officials to visit protected areas and local communities and engage in discussions about the values and benefits of the area can be particularly effective at developing understanding. Workshops, brainstorming sessions, community meetings etc can then be arranged to further discussions and start encouraging ideas about rural development.
- Linking conservation and development: Once a dialogue has been opened with local government decision makers they will soon hopefullyhave a greater and more respectful understanding of local resources and of their potential to develop and create new business opportunities. At this stage policies and actions linking conservation and development can really start to be developed.
- Adding value to local resources: In theory local resources, if sustainably managed, are likely to provide a more secure and sustainable future for economicdevelopment than a strategy involving excessive reliance upon importedmaterials and capital. However rural development will likely depend on at least three elements:
- Overcoming ‘market failures’: The need for rural development is often the result of current practices (e.g., tourism delivery, agricultural production and marketing, crafts etc) no longer having a market (or are experiencing a market decline). This could be because products are no longer required (e.g., due to changing tastes or access to cheaper products from different sources), are no longer economically viable, or because no-one locally is skilled at marketing and sustaining a business.
- Improving ‘local capacity’:ensuring the ability (in terms of skills and infrastructure) and readiness of people and organisations to engage in development initiatives
- Facilitating ‘local empowerment’:ensuring giving local stakeholders have the powerto influence what happens in their locality.
Issue for discussion / Developing action plans
Pre-development /
- Undertake PA-BAT assessment to understand current values and benefits and in particular to assess potentials for increasing or developing new benefits
- Assess local capacity and enthusiasm for undertaking rural development projects
- Assess the local policy environment as a suitable enabler for rural development
Partnerships / Developpartnerships involving protected area staff, local communities (ideally from a range of ages and experiences), service providers (where appropriate) and regional authorities
Planning / Develop a planning process for project development and implementation
Project development / Develop innovative projects and methods for undertaking rural development
Involvement / Ensure equitable participation in the project development and implementation and avoid social exclusion
Enterprise development / Develop a business-based approach to development (see information sheet 4) and mechanisms for direction and financial oversight,shaping long-termstrategy and making informeddecisions concerning specificprojects/businesses.
Implement, market, promote, adapt / Implement rural development projects
Adapted from: Moseley, M. J. (2003). Rural development : principles and practice. London: SAGE.