Abstract

PAZ SALINAS, María Fernanda. On Natural Protected Areas and Particiaption: Agreements and Disagreements in the Construction of the Public Interest. Nueva antropol [online]. 2008, vol.21, n.68, pp.51-74. ISSN 0185-0636.

This paper analyses participation in the management and preservation of natural protected areas, viewing it as a conflictive arena where public, private and collective interests converge and diverge. Focusing on a particular protected region of central Mexico, we try to show how some political and cultural elements encourage or discourage collective action, as well as the construction (or not) of cooperative agreements between the government and local communities who own lands and natural resources in these areas. The first section discusses the concept of participation, making a conceptual and analytical distinction between social participation and civic participation. A brief review is also made of the official proposals for participation, in contrasts with the demands stemming from social movements. This section also points to the social, political and cultural diversity within the natural protected areas. In short, the first section is aimed at a discussion of both the myths regarding participation and the myths regarding natural protected areas. The second section presents a case study that shows the points of confluence and divergenceamong the different types of interests involved (public, private and collective) in the construction of cooperative agreements for collective action.

Keywords : natural protected areas; social participation; collective action; interests.

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