Community-based conservation

alt=An image showing members of a group involved in Community based grassland conservation|thumb|254x254px|Members of a group involved in Community based grassland conservation in [[Akola district|Akola District, Maharashtra,India.]]

Community-based conservation (CBC) is a conservation movement that emerged in the 1980s, also in response to escalating protests and subsequent dialogue with local communities affected by international attempts to protect the biodiversity of the earth. These contentions were a reaction against 'top down' conservation practices, imposed by governments or large organisations and perceived as disregarding the interests of local inhabitants, often based upon the Western idea of nature being separate from culture. The objective of some CBC initiatives is to actively involve some members of local communities in the conservation efforts that affect them, incorporating improvement to their lives while conserving nature through the creation of national parks or wildlife refuges.

A more radical understanding of 'community conservation' highlights the conservation value of the historically careful, sustainable and in many ways protective interaction of human communities with their natural environments. In this light, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have the capacity of being 'custodians' of their 'territories of life'. This capacity comes to life depending on a combination of factors, some of which are intrinsic to the communities themselves and others depend on their ecological, economic and political context. In particular, State governments, international agencies and the private sector need to allow and support communities, rather than impeding them in their custodian role. Colonialism, neo-colonialism, economic growth 'at all costs' and perennial war are the true enemies of Nature. Empowered, aware and self-determined communities are her natural allies. The clearest example is offered by the hundreds of community members killed, and the thousands maimed and oppressed, every year, as they try to defend their environments from extractive and destructive imposed developments.

History

left|thumb|Massai herders affected by conservation zoning from [[Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania.]]

The emergence of CBC is deeply tied to the legacy of colonial conservation practices and the political struggles they provoked. Early conservation efforts, particularly the establishment of national parks like Yellowstone (1872) and Yosemite (1890), followed a "fortress conservation" model: nature was to be preserved by excluding people. This model ignored Indigenous land stewardship and often involved the forced displacement of local communities—an approach later replicated across Africa, Asia, and Latin America during colonial and post-colonial periods. Estimates suggest that more than 20 million people have been displaced globally under exclusionary conservation regimes.

By the mid-20th century, critiques of this model intensified. Scholars and activists pointed to the ethical and ecological failings of removing communities from their ancestral lands. In 1975, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) first acknowledged that traditional ways of life could support biodiversity conservation.

2. Customary institutions and Indigenous-led conservation

CBC programs frequently aim to strengthen customary governance systems, recognizing Indigenous communities as effective stewards of biodiversity. Territories managed under traditional practices, often termed Territories of Life, have shown high conservation value. However, unequal distribution and elite capture remain challenges in many projects.

5. Participatory monitoring and adaptive management

In many CBC efforts, communities monitor biodiversity and habitat conditions, providing data for adaptive management. This not only enhances ecological outcomes but also builds local knowledge and leadership.

Ecosystem-Based Adaption is an example of a form of adaptation management strategy that aims to provide community livelihood safety nets as well as food security physical assets, mobilization and security of resources and public health.

6. Legal recognition and institutional support

Legal frameworks that acknowledge communal land rights are essential for long-term success. Without them, communities face risks of marginalization or dispossession despite their conservation roles.

left|thumb|272x272px|[[Kuala Selangor Nature Park Community Mangrove Nursery (Malaysia), where the local community members planted mangrove saplings in the surrounding area.]]

In other cases, ecological benefits have been more limited or inconsistent. In Madagascar, outcomes have included localized reductions in forest loss, but also instances where environmental pressure was displaced to surrounding areas. Conservation initiatives often struggled to maintain long-term effectiveness when they lacked sustained support or failed to integrate with local livelihoods.

Community impacts

CBC's ability to support communities depends on how decisions are made, how benefits are shared, and whether local voices are genuinely included in shaping conservation efforts. In several African regions, this approach has contributed to improved access to education and healthcare, stronger community institutions, and greater food security through locally managed grazing systems and resource distribution. In some cases, income from tourism and conservation-related employment has supported local livelihoods. Horizon scanning efforts encountered difficulties in balancing novelty with plausibility, impact, and pervasiveness, particularly concerning topics less familiar to collaborators. Moreover, the under-representation of economic and legal expertise in the collaboration underscores the need for diverse perspectives in assessing emerging trends. Discussions often veered into debates over the nature of identified trends and their potential impact, highlighting the nuanced nature of horizon scanning. Amidst these challenges, the significance of CBC emerges as a multifaceted approach that benefits both nature and people. It underscores the inseparability of conservation efforts from ethical considerations and aims to balance biodiversity conservation with human well-being. Ultimately, CBC stands as a strategy for addressing the interconnected crises facing our planet.

Other constraints in Community-Based Conservation is financing projects especially in regards to the ability of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to access capital and funding. Community-based conservation efforts require a presence of financial or non-financial incentives to attract stakeholders.