A growing number of conservationists have concluded that secure property rights are essential elements for community-based conservation (CBC) Initiatives (Brown and Wyckoff-Baird 1992). According to at least one analyst, it is more important for conservationists to promote recognition or establishment of appropriate property rights in buffer zones and conservation areas than to establish appropriate vegetation structures and land use In buffer zones.
A major challenge for conservationists is to promote tenure incentives in situations where communities have no state-recognized tenurial rights. Conservationists need a solid understanding of the dimensions of tenure (particularly community-based tenure), the existing range of relationships between tenure and conservation, and the procedural challenges that they may face If they choOse to pursue strengthening local tenure.
Several of the case studies In this book highlight the relationship between tenurial security and conservation Incentives. Only a few provide any detailed analysis of tenure considerations or explicitly lay out any practical procedures used for addressing them. Community-based conservation ‘Implies that local communities are making management decisions. Communities must have or gain tenurial security In order to make management decisions, either by themselves or as members of decisionmaking boards that Include other stakeholders.