Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation
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Item Thinking outside the protected area box: Exploring conceptions of nature conservation in Cambodia(Lincoln University, 2013) Diamond, JulianeCambodia is a country at the intersection of rapid development and pressure to conserve remaining forested areas. Nature conservation is a stated priority of the Royal Government of Cambodia but is implemented primarily by international organizations. With almost 80% of Cambodia’s population still living rural lifestyles, many communities are impacted by conservation initiatives developed by these organizations. In order for conservation to be relevant and considered legitimate by local communities, investigations into how communities conceive of nature conservation as well as all that surrounds it are necessary. This study aimed to expose the meaning of nature conservation to Cambodian people around a wildlife rescue centre and the capital city of Phnom Penh. For this study a qualitative epistemology was used based on a social construction of nature theory framework. It was conducted around the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC), a rescue centre that is located approximately 40km from Phnom Penh, Cambodia and set inside of a 2,500 hectare protected area. Fifty semi-structured interviews were conducted with four target groups representing distance and relationship to the rescue centre, as well as ten key-informants from the government, NGOs and staff of the rescue centre. Demographic information was collected in order to identify variance between target and demographic groups. Discourse analysis was conducted with the aid of NVivo 10 software to organize the themes that emerged.The main findings of this study related to constructions of PTWRC as a zoo, a resort, a place for wildlife conservation and for raising wildlife. Dynamic themes also arose around nature, including nature in the utilitarian sense with air, water, fish and trees; nature as happiness and wellbeing; nature as protection and balance; and nature as not manmade. In its wider conceptualization, nature conservation revolved around it providing “protection” of nature, and participants’ conceptions of it. Discussions of nature conservation also exposed themes around tourism and sustainability as well as revealing how it occasionally was an unfamiliar term. Overall the data showed that Cambodians possess a range of knowledge’s about nature and nature conservation. Many participants were familiar with threats to forests and wildlife and the decline of wildlife populations and forested lands. Individuals also had suggestions on how to alter these trends and expressed their opinions on the appropriate priorities for Cambodian development and conservation. Interviewees knew of drawbacks resulting both from conservation and development and held several different conceptions of nature and wildlife. These constructions varied across demographics and the target groups but there was also a significant amount of overlap leading to the overarching themes.Recommendations were made for conservation practitioners to consider how communities in their region socially construct nature conservation and in particular, nature. Additionally, this study revealed relevant environmental values connected with indivdiuals’ conceptions of nature which could be incorporated into conservation implementation.Item Eco-tourism: An ally of nature conservation? Defining the rule and measuring the outcomes(Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation. Lincoln University, 2002-04) Booth, Kay L.; Cullen, Ross; Hughey, Kenneth F. D.; Leppens, Jason A.; Maher, Pat T.; Simmons, David G.Nature and natural sites are key attractions for tourists in New Zealand. Continuing strong growth in both international and domestic tourism numbers is placing increasing pressure on many New Zealand nature-based tourism sites. Eco-tourism is sometimes promoted as the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry. A rapidly growing number of businesses advertise their activities to tourists as 'eco-tourism' and eco-tourism is sometimes hailed as a pathway to avoid some of the negative consequences associated with mass tourism. However, the term suffers from ambiguity and it lacks ownership. There is doubt over the veracity of claims that eco-tourism, in all its forms, is sustainable. The Flock Hill 2002 workshop comprised representatives of the tourism industry, government policy agencies, conservation NOO's and researchers who debated the nature and role of eco-tourism in New Zealand.Item Conservation and sustainable use of New Zealand flora: on non-conservation land(Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation. Lincoln University, 2001-03) Cullen, Ross; Hughey, Kenneth F. D.; Booth, Kay L.; Crawford, K.; Allen, W.; Kilvington, M. J.Item An integrated ecological approach to urban green spaces planning in Beijing, China(Lincoln University., 2009-11) Chen, CS; Deng, HThe main goals of the workshop were to identify ways in which ecology and design can be successfully integrated and to determine future research and teaching directions in urban ecology and ecological design. Now more than ever we need to understand the role of urban ecology and design in dealing with social, climatic, economic and biodiversity crises in a rapidly changing world. This presentation focuses on an integrated ecological approach to urban green spaces planning in Beijing, China.Item Managing & designing stress, disturbance & succession of urban wastelands for biodiversitySlupski, J.; Meurk, C. D.; Ignatieva, Maria; Greenep, H.; Stewart, Glenn H.The main goals of the workshop were to identify ways in which ecology and design can be successfully integrated and to determine future research and teaching directions in urban ecology and ecological design. Now more than ever we need to understand the role of urban ecology and design in dealing with social, climatic, economic and biodiversity crises in a rapidly changing world. This presentation focuses on managing and designing stress, disturbance and succession of urban wastelands for biodiversity.