ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the influence of western conservation ideology in determining the portioning of land within northern Tanzania’s savanna landscape. It argues for landscape management that takes in the ecoregional scale and integrates historical land use practices with modern conservation agendas. The book outlines the influence of scientific paradigms in determining development interventions within Botswana’s savannas. It describes the deleterious effects of top-down policymaking and management within national parks and reserves, which has to date largely disregarded traditional and scientific knowledge. The book deals with what the authors see as the implications of their work for practitioners and policy makers. It shows how local communities create alternative landscapes which sustain a range of essential social-ecological functions. The book suggests that the difficulty in establishing a balance between immediate individual needs and long-term community benefits.
