The Politics and Economics of Park Management

This text examines national protected area systems, in both developed and developing countries, that have made a transformation from fortress parks to a sustainable use model. The contributors - park managers, academics and members of non-governmental organizations - contend that successful institutional change in protected area systems involves the adoption of appropriate legal and regulatory regimes covering sustainable use, as well as the development of an informal culture of sustainable resource use among all of a park’s stakeholders. The book goes on to show how attitudes may evolve over time, within the management structure and the community of resource users. The case studies cited represent examples of successful institutional change, demonstrating the financial and concervation benefits to protected area agencies, to serve as models for managing parks.