Integrating conservation and development at the local level: Co-management of the Galibi Nature Reserve, Suriname

The objective of this thesis is to examine co-management as a tool for the integration of conservation and development at the local level. Integrated conservation and development projects, decentralization, devolution and community-based management approaches are examined to identify how conservation conflicts are resolved.;The co-management arrangement for the Galibi Nature Reserve, Suriname, is examined as an alternative approach. The co-management arrangement is examined based on how it resolves the problems with conservation and protected area management: integrating conservation and development at the local level, involving local populations in conservation and development and integrating state views of environmental management with local common property resource (CPR) management systems.;It is found that the Galibi co-management arrangement is effective at integrating conservation and development through the use of nature tourism.;It is proposed that the co-management arrangement be strengthened by granting greater local control over conservation and development to local organizations, under the supervision of the government agency responsible for protected area management. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).