Abstract:
Community-based conservation includes natural resource or biodiversity protection by, for
and with the local community. However, surprisingly little is known about what enables
community-based conservation. The aim of this research was to explore and identify potential
motivations of a community-based organization in choosing, in this case, conservation of
endangered olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) as their flagship project. Samudram
Women’s Federation, a State-level organization working with small-scale fishing communities in
Odisha, India, was used as a case to explore questions around collective action for communitybased
conservation. Using qualitative methodologies, the study analyzed how the interactions and
interests of multiple actors shaped the goals and activities for the conservation initiative.
Government prohibition of killing turtles, or any other single factor, could not explain conservation
behavior. Rather, many complementary factors (economic, political, environmental, social cultural
and spiritual) enabled and/or motivated community conservation and environment
