ABSTRACT

This chapter outlines an expanded rationale for protected areas and shows how they help to sustain human society, thereby contributing to the conservation and development of living natural resources in the tropics. It suggests some of the ways and means for promoting linkages between protected areas, regional land use authorities and economic development. In other categories of protected areas the presence of indigenous peoples may be acceptable where they are living in close and balanced harmony with their environment and can be said to have become a part of the natural ecosystem. Tropical ecosystems are very complex and poorly understood, so it is challenging to attempt to use ecological principles to guide the establishment of protected areas designed to conserve samples of tropical nature. Moreover, many of the wild species from protected areas perform valuable functions for agriculture. Two additional contributions of protected areas to regional development are worth mentioning: tourism; and harvesting of wildlife and other natural products.