Human Population, Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Science and Policy Issues

254 pages
Published 1996

Book Summary

In April 1995, the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Program on Population and Sustainable Development (PSD) convened a meeting of experts to discuss the human population's impact on biological diversity in protected areas. The papers presented and recommendations made at this meeting have been published in a book entitled Human Population, Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Science and Policy Issues.

The book examines the impact that the human population has on biological diversity in protected areas. The initial papers provide an overview of population issues, biodiversity and protected areas and explain the linkages between them. The case studies provide real examples of these linkages, and describe in detail the overwhelmingly negative impact that people have on biodiversity. The specifics of each case study vary - some protected areas are affected by increasing human population pressures within their borders (from tourists or religious pilgrimages) others suffer from increased population pressures outside their borders (due to migration or natural increases). All of the authors agree that in order to effectively protect and conserve biological diversity, management of protected areas must involve local people and local people must derive benefits from preserving these areas.

Given the lack of scientific understanding of the linkages between population, biodiversity and protected areas, each author makes a series of research recommendations. More information and understanding about the inter-relationship between population, biodiversity and protected areas would enable policy makers at the local, regional, and international levels to more effectively manage protected areas.