ABSTRACT

Failures of natural resource conservation and management programs in the Third World often can be traced to the neglect of their social aspects, primarily local values and traditions. Conversely, success is frequently attributable to designing projects consistent with these same factors. In this paper, David Hansen and Mark Erbaugh address social causes of natural resource degradation and the need to create conditions under which conservation projects can and will be successful. A concise case study from the Dominican Republic provides material illustrative of a success story. In summary, they note that social science inputs must be made during the project conceptualization process, rather than during an end-of-project review.