Publications -

Community Conservation researchers have published and stimulated publications in a number of professional journals. A selected list by key questions is below as well as others.

What is community conservation?

Why does community conservation work?

Why do people participate in conservation activities?

Does community conservation work at larger scales?

What does gender tell us about community conservation?

What is community conservation?

Community conservation is local communities protecting biodiversity and natural resources. This approach recognizes that local people are often the best stewards of their own land and that they have a vested interest in its conservation.

Robert H. Horwich, Sam Shanee, Noga Shanee, Arnab Bose, Mark Fenn and Joydeep Chakraborty. 2015. Creating Modern Community Conservation Organizations and Institutions to Effect Successful Forest Conservation Change, Chapter 6 in Precious Forests – Precious Earth, Dr. Miodrag Zlatic (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-2175-6, InTech, DOI: 10.5772/61133.
Horwich, R.H., J. Lyon, and Scott Bernstein. 2004. An Evaluation Tool for Internal and External Assessments of Community-Based Conservation Projects. Unpublished Manuscript. 28pp
Horwich, R.H., 2017. Community Involvement and Primate Conservation, in: The International Encyclopedia of Primatology. American Cancer Society, pp. 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119179313.wbprim0231

What are the strengths of Community conservation compared to other conservation approaches, like ICDPs?

Horwich, R.H. and J. Lyon. 2007. Community Conservation: Practitioners’ Answer to Critics. Oryx, 41(3), 376-385.

Why does community conservation work?

It works because people want to conserve biodiversity, live in a healthy environment, and protect their natural resources. Don’t believe it? Take a look at these publications:

Protected areas

Allendorf, T.D., 2020. A global summary of local residents’ attitudes toward protected areas. Human Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-020-00135-7
Allendorf, T.D., 2022. A global summary of local residents’ perceptions of benefits and problems of protected areas. Biodivers Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02359-z
- See a 13-minute conference presentation of these first two papers here.
Allendorf, T.D., 2007. Residents’ attitudes toward three protected areas in southwestern Nepal. Biodiversity and Conservation 16, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-006-9092-z
Allendorf, T.D., Yang, J., 2013. The role of ecosystem services in park–people relationships: The case of Gaoligongshan Nature Reserve in southwest China. Biological Conservation 167, 187–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.08.013
Allendorf, T.D., Swe, K.K., Oo, T., Htut, Y., Aung, M., Aung, M., Allendorf, K., Hayek, L.A., Leimgruber, P., Wemmer, C., 2006. Community attitudes toward three protected areas in Upper Myanmar (Burma). Environ.Conserv. 33, 344–352. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892906003389
Allendorf, T.D., Aung, M., Songer, M., 2012. Using residents’ perceptions to improve park-people relationships in Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar. Journal of Environmental Management 99, 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.004
Allendorf, T.D., Smith, J.L.D., Anderson, D.H., 2007. Residents’ perceptions of Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. Landscape and Urban Planning 82, 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.01.015

Forests and sacred areas

Allendorf, T.D., Swe, K.K., Aung, M., Thorsen, A., 2018. Community use and perceptions of a biodiversity corridor in Myanmar’s threatened southern forests. Global Ecology and Conservation 15, e00409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00409
Allendorf, T.D., Brandt, J.S., Yang, J.M., 2014. Local perceptions of Tibetan village sacred forests in northwest Yunnan. Biological Conservation 169, 303–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.12.001

Why do people participate in conservation activities?

When people participate in community conservation activities, their communities receive a diversity of benefits and so do they.

Allendorf, T., Gurung, B., Smith, J.L.D., 2009. Community-Based Monitoring of Tigers in Nepal. Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies XXIX, 8.
Allendorf, T.D., Das, R., Bose, A., Ray, B., Chaudhuri, K.D., Brock, S., Horwich, R.H., 2013. Motivations of the community forest protection forces of the Manas Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 20, 426–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2013.816890

Does community conservation work at larger scales?

A critical piece of community conservation is conservation contagion. When one community conserves biodiversity, the concept spreads throughout nearby communities, scaling up the impact of community conservation.

Horwich, R.H., J. Lyon, A. Bose and Jones, C.B. 2012. Chapter 14, Preserving biodiversity and ecosystems: catalyzing conservation contagion. In: Deforestation Around the World. (ed. P. Moutinho), pp.283-318, InTech Rijeky, Croatia
Shanee, S., Shanee, N., Lock, W., Espejo-Uribe, M.J., 2020. The development and growth of non-governmental conservation in Peru: privately and communally protected areas. Hum Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-020-00188-8

What does gender tell us about community conservation?

The involvement of women in conservation is critical for community conservation to be successful. After all, they are half of the community but too often are not fully included.

Allendorf, T.D., Yang, J.M., 2017. The role of gender in local residents’ relationships with Gaoligongshan Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China. Environ Dev Sustain 19, 185–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-015-9731-1
Allendorf, T.D., Aung, M., Swe, K.K., Songer, M., 2017. Pathways to improve park-people relationships: Gendered attitude changes in Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar. Biological Conservation 216, 78–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.10.005
Carter, N.H., Allendorf, T.D., 2016. Gendered perceptions of tigers in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Biological Conservation 202, 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.002
Allendorf, T.D., Allendorf, K., 2012. The role of gender in park-people relationships in Nepal. Hum Ecol 40, 789–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-012-9510-7
Allendorf, T.D., Allendorf, K., 2013. Gender and attitudes toward protected areas in Myanmar. Society & Natural Resources 26, 962–976. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2012.729295

Country-specific publications

Belize

“What Belize can teach us about community conservation” by Community Conservation’s founder Rob Horwich and several of his colleagues Horwich, R.H., J. Lyon, A. Bose. 2011. What Belize Can Teach Us about Grassroots Conservation. Solutions, Vol. 2 Issue 3 pp. 51-58. (download pdf)
“How to develop a community sanctuary – an experimental approach to conservation of private lands” by Rob Horwich
Wyman, M.S., Stein, T.V., Southworth, J. & Horwich, R.H. 2011. Does population increase equate to conservation success? Conservation and Society, 9(3):216-228.
“Experimental technique for the conservation of private lands” by Rob Horwich and Jonathan Lyon (please email ccinfo@communityconservation.org for a copy) Full citation: Horwich, R.H., Lyon, J., 1988. Experimental Technique for the Conservation of Private Lands. Journal of Medical Primatology 17, 169–176. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0684.1988.tb00379.x
“Multilevel conservation and education at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize” by Rob Horwich and Jonathan Lyon
“Ecotourism and community development: a view from Belize” by Rob Horwich and several colleagues. Horwich, R.H., Murray, D., Saqui, E., Lyon, J., Godfrey, D., 1993. Ecotourism and community development: a view from Belize. Ecotourism: a guide for planners and managers. 152–168.
Horwich, R.H. and B. Boardman. 1993. Community Conservation and Ecotourism Gayles Point Manatee. Belize Review (April): 14-20.
Jones, C.B. and R.H. Horwich. 2005. Constructive Criticism of Community-Based Conservation. Conservation Biology, 19(4): 990-991.
Hartup, B.K. 1994. Community Conservation in Belize: Demography, Resource Use, and Attitudes of Participating Landowners. Biological Conservation, 69: 235-241
Horwich, R.H. and J. Lyon. 1998. Community-Based Development as a Conservation Tool: The Community Baboon Sanctuary and the Gales Point Manatee Project. Timber, Tourism and Temples, Conservation and Development in the Maya Forest of Belize, Guatemala and Mexico. R.B. Primack, D. Bray, H.A. Galetti, and I. Ponciano (eds.), Island Press, Covelo, CA. pp. 343-363.
Horwich, R.H. and J. Lyon. 1993. Tropical Forest Fragments and Black Howler Monkey Conservation in Belize. Forest Remnants in the Tropical Landscape: Benefits and Policy Implications. R. Greenberg (ed.), Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. pp. 69-70.
Horwich, R.H. 1988. The Community Baboon Sanctuary: An Approach to the Conservation of Private Lands, Belize. Saving the Tropical Forests. J. Gradwohl and R. Greenberg (eds.), Earthscan Publication Ltd., London. pp 72-75.
Horwich, R.H. 1987. Community-based Sanctuary for the Black Howler Monkey. Honourable Mention, The Rolex Awards for Enterprise – 1987. Excerpt from: Spirit of Enterprise, The 1987 Rolex Awards, Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd., Berkshire, England, pp. 436-438.
Horwich, R.H. 1986. A Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize. Primate Conservation, 7: 15-17.
Horwich, R.H. 1998. Effective Solutions for Howler Conservation. International Journal of Primatology, 19(3): 579-598.
Jones, C.B. and J. Young. 2004. Hunting Restraint by Creoles at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Belize: A Preliminary Survey. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 7(2):127-141.
Lyon, J. and R.H. Horwich. 1996. Modification of Tropical Forest Patches for Wildlife Protection and Community Conservation in Belize. Forest Patches in Tropical Landscapes, J. Shelhas and R. Greenberg (eds.), Island Press, Washington D.C., pp 205-230.
Young, C.A., Horwich, R.H., 2007. History of Protected Area Designation, Co-management and Community Participation in Belize 25.
Horwich, R.H. and J. Lyon. 1999. Rural Ecotourism as a Conservation Tool. Tourism Development in the Critical Environments, T.V. Singh (ed.), Cognizant Communication Corp., NY, pp. 102-119.

India

“Community protection of the Manas Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India, and the endangered golden langur Trachypithecus geei” by Rob Horwich and several colleagues
Allendorf, T.D., Das, R., Bose, A., Ray, B., Chaudhuri, K.D., Brock, S., Horwich, R.H., 2013. Motivations of the community forest protection forces of the Manas Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology 20, 426–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2013.816890
Horwich, R.H., Das, R. and Bose, A. 2013. Conservation and current status of the golden langur in Assam, India with reference to Bhutan. Primate Conservation 2013 (27): 1-7
Horwich, R.H., R. Islari, A. Bose, B. Dey, M. Moshahary, N.K. Dey, R. Das, and J. Lyon. 2010. Community Protection of the Manas Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India, and the Endangered golden langur Trachypithecus geei. Oryx 44(2): 252-260.

Nepal

Allendorf, T.D., Gurung, B., Poudel, S., Dahal, S., Thapa, S., 2019. Using community knowledge to identify potential hotspots of mammal diversity in southeastern Nepal. Biodiversity and Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01919-0
Allendorf, T.D., Gurung, B., 2016. Balancing conservation and development in Nepal’s protected area buffer zones. PARKS 22, 69–82. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2016.PARKS-22-2TDA.en
Allendorf, T., Gurung, B., Smith, J.L.D., 2009. Community-Based Monitoring of Tigers in Nepal. Himalaya: The Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies XXIX, 8.

Peru

Shanee, S., Shanee, N., Lock, W., Espejo-Uribe, M.J., 2020. The development and growth of non-governmental conservation in Peru: privately and communally protected areas. Hum Ecol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-020-00188-8
Shanee, N., Shanee, S., Horwich, R.H., 2015. Effectiveness of locally run conservation initiatives in north-east Peru. Oryx 49, 239–247. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605313001002
Shanee, S., Shanee, N., Monteferri, B., Allgas, N., Alarcon Pardo, A., Horwich, R.H., 2017. Protected area coverage of threatened vertebrates and ecoregions in Peru: Comparison of communal, private and state reserves. Journal of Environmental Management 202, 12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.023
Shanee, S., Allgas, N., Shanee, N., 2018. Community Conservation as a tool for primate conservation in Peru, in: Primatology, Biocultural Diversity and Sustainable Development in Tropical Forests. pp. 320–329.
Shanee, S., Shanee, N., 2015. Measuring Success in a Community Conservation Project: Local Population Increase in a Critically Endangered Primate, the Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix Flavicauda) at La Esperanza, Northeastern Peru. Tropical Conservation Science 8, 169–186. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291500800114

Ghana

Osei, D., Horwich, R.H., and Pittman, J.M. 2015. First Sightings of the Roloway Monkey (Cercopithecus diana rollaway) in Ghana in Ten Years and the Status of Other Primates in Southwestern Ghana. African Primates 10:25-40.

wisconsin

“Communities saving Wisconsin birds: north and south” by Rob Horwich Horwich, R.H. 2005. Communities Saving Wisconsin Birds: North and South. The Passenger Pigeon (Vol. 67, No. 1): 85-98.

Theses and dissertations

“Defining and building community capacity for co-management of protected areas in Belize” by Bernstein, Scott E. 2005. Master’s Thesis. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Excerpts:
- Bernstein, Scott E. 2005. Thirteen Training Objectives for Community-based Conservation. (Expanded description of the 13 training objectives identified in above Master’s Thesis.) 3 pgs.
- Bernstein, Scott E. 2005. Training Chart. (Chart comparing 6 evaluation/training methods to derive 13 training objectives identified in above Master’s Thesis.) 2 pgs. (download pdf)
Bider, Jeanette J. 1997. Avian Use of Tropical Gallery Forest Patches in North-central Belize. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Arkansas.
Bruner, G.H. 1993. Evaluating a Model of Private-ownership Conservation: Ecotourism in the Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize. M.S. Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Hartup, B.K. 1989. An Alternative Conservation Model for Tropical Areas: The Community Baboon Sanctuary. M.S. Thesis (Land Resources), University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Additional publications

Additional publications by Teri Allendorf can be found at Google Scholar and Research Gate.

Additional publications by Rob Horwich can be found at Research Gate.