Protected area planning and management in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India: a case study of environmental justice and learning for biodiversity conservation
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Date
2020
Authors
Dilay, Ariane
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Abstract
While Protected Areas (PAs) are essential for the preservation of biodiversity, conservation efforts should not impose injustices onto local communities. Using a qualitative case study that included document review, semi-structured interviews, participant observation and thematic analysis, the planning and management of a network of PAs in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India were examined. The study 1) describes the planning and management approach for PAs in Kullu, 2) explains how the planning and management approach has changed since the declaration of the first national park in 1984, 3) evaluates the integration of the four attributes of environmental justice (distributive, procedural, recognitional and restorative) in PA planning and management, and 4) identifies learning outcomes for those involved in or affected by PAs in the Kullu District and relates such outcomes to environmental justice. Overall, the data reveal that the planning and management of PAs in Kullu operates under an Exclusive Model that restricts local people from accessing and utilizing natural resources within PAs, while also excluding them from participating in planning and management activities. In terms of environmental justice, the data show that there is an uneven distribution of benefits from PAs and inequitable restrictions on resource use, a lack of early and ongoing consultation with locally affected communities, and uneven and inadequate compensation for loss of traditional rights. One important learning outcome identified by forest officers is a movement away from the practice of forced displacement of people. Although this suggests a transition toward a more inclusive model, much work remains to advance environmental justice in PA planning and management in the Kullu District. The data also indicate that inclusivity and advancement of environmental justice in PA planning and management could be achieved through: collaborative knowledge exchange between forest officers and community members; opportunities for community members to participate in planning and management activities; and the recognition of marginalized members of society in PA planning.
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Keywords
Protected area, Environmental justice, Learning, NREM, Biodiversity conservation