Do developmental initiatives influence local attitudes toward conservation? A case study from the Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2006-04, Vol.79 (2), p.188-197
• Main Authors: Arjunan, M., Holmes, Christopher, Puyravaud, Jean-Philippe, Davidar, Priya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Animals, Wild - growth & development; Applied ecology; Attitude; attitudes and opinions; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation; conservation areas; Conservation attitudes; conservation compliance; Conservation of Natural Resources; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; eco-development; Female; Forest management; forest resources; Forestry; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; household surveys; Humans; India; Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve; Male; Panthera tigris; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Poverty; Protected areas; Public Opinion; Residence Characteristics; Rural livelihoods; Rural Population; Sex Distribution; Social Class; socioeconomic status; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tigers - growth & development; villages; Western Ghats; Wildcats; wildlife habitats; wildlife management; World Bank; World Bank eco-development project
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.06.007

We evaluated the conservation attitudes of the local villagers living adjacent to the Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in southern India 6 years after implementation of a World Bank funded eco-development project. We assessed attitudes towards three facets of conservation: the tiger, an emblematic species signifying India's commitment to wildlife conservation; the forest, a principle source of fuel-wood and other products; and the Forest Department, which manages the forest. More specifically we predicted that (i) attitudes would be an effective predictor of resource use interest in the forest and (ii) benefits obtained from the EDP would create more favorable attitudes towards conservation and the protected area employees. Twelve villages located within 3 km from the reserve boundary were chosen and 2–3% of the households interviewed with regard to their attitudes towards these three facets of conservation, their household resource use patterns, wealth, sex, age and length of residency. We found significant associations between wealth, sex, age and both tiger and forest conservation. Providing benefits has not changed the underlying attitudes of the communities. The poorer sections of society, whether receiving benefits or not, tended to support tiger conservation because conserving wildlife did not affect their livelihood in any way, whereas both the rich and poor had misgivings about forest conservation due to dependency on forest products. We conclude that the eco-development project has not effectively addressed the most important of the local concerns.