Complex effects of natural disasters on protected areas

Abstract

It is now broadly recognised that in order to be sustainable, protected areas (PAs) must bring concrete benefits to local populations who suffer from the restrictions imposed for conservation. Natural disasters, such as major floods, bring additional challenges to conservation efforts and related support activities, notably nature-based tourism. Disasters often intensify conflicts between conservation objectives and local community needs, but they may also bring some mutual benefits. Reduced income from decreased nature-based tourism can, for example, lead to expansion of agricultural fields to protected forests, and subsequent land-use conflicts. Yet, disasters can also strengthen feelings of solidarity and result in additional investment in the area for both income generating activities and production of services. This chapter is based on comparative analysis of the impact of Cyclone Idai in two contrasting PAs in Mozambique, the national parks of Chimanimani and Gorongosa. The former is a relatively little known PA, where local benefits derive mainly from nature-based tourism operated by a small community-based venture, and other activities are supported by a variegated set of externally funded microprojects. The latter is a renowned sanctuary operated as a public-private joint venture, which enjoys ample funding from various private and public donors. In addition to donor funding, Gorongosa partakes of substantial income from upmarket ecotourism ventures operated by private companies. The comparative set-up of the study therefore provides a good opportunity to examine the complex ways such unexpected challenges may change the prospects of different types of ecotourism venturesand the situation of local populations.

Uneven Donor Engagement and Fraught Transboundary Conservation Approaches

“…Adding to concerns that emerged from colonial evictions, war-induced displacements, and postcolonial resettlements, environmental shocks unfolding in the region have recently raised new questions about the future of the Chimanimani TFCA. This TFCA is experiencing a series of droughts, tropical storms such as cyclones-Eline, Japhet, Idai, Chalane, Eloise, and Anna-of which the last four occurred between March 2019 and January 2022, destroying livelihoods, infrastructure, shelter, and displacing people and leaving many dead (Virtanen et al 2022;Spiegel et al 2022). The already acute environmental situation in Chimanimani has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a deterioration of well-being inside and outside conservation areas (Spiegel et al 2022).…”

“…We observed that in the Chimanimani TFCA, the politicisation of conservation funding has been sharply shaping-and, more importantly perhaps, perceived and/or portrayed to have been shaping-the implementation of management frameworks among state agencies. While the PNC receives less funding than other parks such as the Gorongosa National Park in the Sofala Province of Mozambique (Virtanen et al 2022), World Bank funding to PNC has been considerable when compared with CNP, which, in contrast, depends on public funding. Access to conservation funding in both countries was clearly associated with transnational politics and further viewed as a key determinant of current differences in managing the Chimanimani TFCA.…”

“…Instead of going to town to sell bananas we are now panning, but the main problem is fiscais who are strictly against this" [interview, December 2021]. As noted by Virtanen et al (2022), the interference by park rangers is seen as evil and inhumane by local community members, and this is likely to breed conflicts between local communities and conservationists in the region.…”