"The vital position of Africans in effective conservation has not been well described for the Western public, and "The Myth of Wild Africa takes an important step in redressing this lack of understanding. For anyone interested in the realities of conservation, it is a book well worth reading."--Dr. Amy Vedder, Biodiversity Program Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation Society

"A thoughtful and important examination of . . . the fatal fallacies of old-style conservation. The relationship between wildlife and people in Africa is as old as our species itself. The future of both must be taken into account together. Required reading for anyone who has ever cared about one or the other."--Thomas E. Lovejoy, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs, Smithsonian Institution

"I've never read any single other volume that has had as much impact on the problems, politics, and policies--and possible solution--of conservation in Africa."--Gary C. Clarke, Director Emeritus, Topeka, Kansas Zoological Park

Parks and reserves are on the front line in the campaign to conserve biodiversity on our planet. It is increasingly clear that these protected areas have limited future prospects without the cooperation and support of local people, especially in developing countries. Integrated Conservation and Development Projects (ICDPs) set out to reconcile park management with local needs and aspirations -- by emphasizing social and economic development among local communities -- and have managed to attract the lion's share of the funding for biodiversity. But so far the results have been disappointing. Important unanswered questions remain, and there is little consensus on when or where an ICDP approach to protected area management is appropriate and likely to be effective. Some conservationists argue that the ICDP focus on development dilutes biodiversity conservation goals, whereas others argue that the inward-looking protectionist alternative is doomed to failure.

As the struggle to balance conservation and development continues, the need to evaluate what works and what doesn't becomes increasingly important. This book draws on the lessons from the ICDP experience to inform the next generation of biodiversity conservation programs, including those concerned with the alleviation of poverty as well as those working at landscape scale. The contributors explore the theoretical and practical challenges to better inform conservationists and decision makers of the role that conservation and development approaches can and should play in conserving biodiversity.