PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 3 Tackling difficult issues: lessons from research in Ecuador

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 3 Tackling difficult issues: lessons from research in Ecuador Jeremy Cox Introduction population growth (the highest in Latin America), has resulted in a dramatic increase Sociological studies of communities living in the colonisation of Amazon Ecuador. Most within or close to areas of exceptional colonists are in search of an income from biodiversity play an integral role in any cattle farming and subsequently, the national conservation strategy because they can identify park has come under increasing pressure from impacts to the environment and highlight less them. In order to understand these pressures, a harmful means of production. However, such team spent three months in 1998 working in a studies are difficult to conduct as they are `colonist community', Las Orquideas, in the often perceived by local communities as isolated Rio Nangartiza Valley which borders threatening to their way of life. The need to the eastern edge of the park. The information generate the community's confidence is gained will contribute to a long term essential in nurturing co-operation. This management strategy of the area for the involves choosing approaches that facilitate Instituto Ecuatoriano Forestal y de Areas good relations with local communities, even if Naturales ...