Governability in Protected Areas and Citizens Participation

Abstract

The 5th World Parks Conference organized by the IUCN in 2003 means the beginning of a new era for nature conservation strategies and brings out the need to establish an innovative approach to manage the protected areas. This paper contributes a series of ordered reflections on some of the causes that hinder the management of such areas. This proposal is part of the approaches presented by S. O. Funtowicz and J.R. Ravetz on «Post-normal science. Science and people» and aims to contribute to the management and assessment of the protected areas in a useful way. Especially, taking into account that our interests are focussed on those aspects connected with the involvement of local communities.