Partnership, perception, poaching

Abstract

The aim of my study is to determine the effectiveness of private nature reserve partnership programs at addressing development priorities in communities and alleviating conflict between private reserves and nearby communities related to development and wildlife conservation. Partnerships are transboundary management programs between private reserves and nearby communities. They are activities initiated or sponsored by the private reservte that act to build constituency between the reserve and community. They include programs such as employment in the reserve, education programs held within the reserve or community, or financing infrastructure development in communities. Rhino poaching is most topical internationally, but I am also interested in occurrences of other types of conflict such as community demonstrations and complaints against the reserve, or wildlife damaging community property or killing livestock.