Biosphere Reserves in Lebanon: Rifts between Conservation Discourse and Practice

Sarah Karam, Giuliano Martiniello, Ali Chalak, Mounir Abi-Said and Shadi Kamal Hamadeh
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Sarah Karam: Environment and Sustainable Development Unit, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Giuliano Martiniello: Political Science and Political Economy at Sciences Po Rabat, Universite’ Internationale de Rabat, Rabat 11103, Morocco
Ali Chalak: Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Mounir Abi-Said: L2GE, Life and Earth Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences II, Lebanese University, Jdeideh 90656, Lebanon
Shadi Kamal Hamadeh: Environment and Sustainable Development Unit, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: Protected areas (PA), especially biosphere reserves (BR), are considered effective instruments for nature conservation and rural development. However, their impact on rural communities constitutes the most controversial debate in conservation policy and practice. This study aims to reveal the perceptions of local communities towards conservation, the extent of the inclusion of local communities in the establishment and management of a BR and the impact of BRs on local livelihoods by exploring a case study while reflecting on major debates in the conservation and rural development paradigms. Mixed research methods focusing on qualitative methodology are used. By exploring a BR in Lebanon, this research highlights how the allocation and management of the BRs have not always reflected participatory, sustainable and community-based approaches. This study stresses the importance of the locals’ engagement in the whole conservation process. By putting people, their needs and perceptions at the center of decision-making, conservation agencies would shift the main objective of BRs from conservation to poverty reduction.

Keywords: protected areas; biosphere reserves; rural development; participation; rural livelihoods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12411-:d:675944

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