Aiming for better management of game parks

[Stennett14]

The problems that arose between the managements of the parks and the local population have been mirrored by Hough (1988). He feels that the restrictions on access to traditionally used resources and the disruption of local cultures and economies by the tourists, etc, have led to hostility, resentment, and damage to park property. He identified eight key obstacles to the effective management of park-people relationships, and they can be summarized as follows:

• The institutional structure of the national parks (i.e. the concept of park and their policy structures)
• The lack of trust between the local people and the park authorities
• The lack of communication between the parks and the local people
• The large number of different stakeholders in the park
• The polarization of power between governments and the local population
• The risk and uncertainty involved when entering into discussions aimed at reducing conflicts
• The enforcement of agreements between the parks and the local population
• The lack of opportunity for all to participate in the decision-making process

In general, threats to parks and the management of parks have, according to Dearden and Rollins (1993), evolved over time. Park management was primarily an internal affair earlier, but now it is more external in its orientation. This development has coincided with the belief that the roles of parks have changed significantly from where they were developed initially (at least in Canada). In those times their primary role was to cater to the recreational needs of the visitors. This is no longer the case, at least in theory, however, with the recent changes to the Canadian Parks Act in 1988 to underscore the importance of ecological functioning of parks over the recreational component.

Even though countries like India are facing problems in managing the scores of game parks, due to the emphasis placed upon the need to preserve the green cover, major developments are now being seen. In Kerala tours and travels to nature reserves were mainly undertaken by the wildlife enthusiasts. The management of the nature parks is the sole prerogative of the state government and the private sector has very little role in it.