95
4
Furthermore, Martin argued that ‘for the continued survival of the protected area,
they (local communities) must share the benefits that arise from it’ (Martin 2003).
In a similar spirit, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) called out its message ‘Conserving Wildlife, Protecting Land, Empowering People’ through a giant
billboard placed close to Kilimanjaro Airport in northern Tanzania. The billboard
depicted a person, presumably an African farmer or pastoralist, ‘holding hand’
with an elephant trunk (. Photo 4.1).
Also, government officials within the state segment on natural resources in
African countries contribute to the win-win discourse. An example of this is an
address given by a representative of the Wildlife Division in Tanzania at the World
Conservation Congress in Barcelona in 2008:
» In Tanzania we have a programme called “community-based conservation” where
we involve the local people in conservation of protected areas and areas around
their villages. … we have areas called Wildlife Management Areas where the local
people plan their land uses in the areas, which include nature resource management and also other land uses. And from there they get benefits. So the important
thing here is the benefit sharing with the local communities. The funds, which
accrue from the hunting of animals, go to the local communities and part of it
goes to the government… They also help to build schools and also hospitals for
the rural communities, and therefore they also help to put their lifestyles into better shape (transcript from recording, World Conservation Congress, Barcelona,
October 2008).
In addition to the active contributions to the win-win discourse by large conservation groups and government officials in Africa, various other actors have also
adopted this discourse, such as multi- and bilateral development agencies, celebrities, owners of hotels and other tourism companies located next to or within protected areas, other corporations that donate money to conservation, as well as
many scientists with various specializations who carry out research related to protected areas.
. Photo 4.1 AWF billboard in
northern Tanzania. (Photo:
Tor A. Benjaminsen)
4.3 · The Win-Win Discourse on Protected Areas
4
Furthermore, Martin argued that ‘for the continued survival of the protected area,
they (local communities) must share the benefits that arise from it’ (Martin 2003).
In a similar spirit, the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) called out its message ‘Conserving Wildlife, Protecting Land, Empowering People’ through a giant
billboard placed close to Kilimanjaro Airport in northern Tanzania. The billboard
depicted a person, presumably an African farmer or pastoralist, ‘holding hand’
with an elephant trunk (. Photo 4.1).
Also, government officials within the state segment on natural resources in
African countries contribute to the win-win discourse. An example of this is an
address given by a representative of the Wildlife Division in Tanzania at the World
Conservation Congress in Barcelona in 2008:
» In Tanzania we have a programme called “community-based conservation” where
we involve the local people in conservation of protected areas and areas around
their villages. … we have areas called Wildlife Management Areas where the local
people plan their land uses in the areas, which include nature resource management and also other land uses. And from there they get benefits. So the important
thing here is the benefit sharing with the local communities. The funds, which
accrue from the hunting of animals, go to the local communities and part of it
goes to the government… They also help to build schools and also hospitals for
the rural communities, and therefore they also help to put their lifestyles into better shape (transcript from recording, World Conservation Congress, Barcelona,
October 2008).
In addition to the active contributions to the win-win discourse by large conservation groups and government officials in Africa, various other actors have also
adopted this discourse, such as multi- and bilateral development agencies, celebrities, owners of hotels and other tourism companies located next to or within protected areas, other corporations that donate money to conservation, as well as
many scientists with various specializations who carry out research related to protected areas.
. Photo 4.1 AWF billboard in
northern Tanzania. (Photo:
Tor A. Benjaminsen)
4.3 · The Win-Win Discourse on Protected Areas