Do protected areas support cultural survival?: examining the characteristics of modern protected areas

This thesis addresses the question of whether or not today's protected areas, as widespread formal means for nature conservation, are compatible with indigenous cultures. By reviewing case studies of various protected areas on indigenous lands, the thesis examines the degree to which protected areas are influenced by dominant Western culture and discusses the connections between protected area policies and European colonial practices. The study suggests that protected area policies are highly infused with Western-influenced values and norms, and are often imposed upon indigenous societies in the same manner as colonial policies. Today, protected areas on indigenous lands are in greater demand due to increasing public concern over the loss of biological diversity and the growing political significance of environmental issues. However, there is a definite possibility that the expansion of protected areas will further weaken indigenous cultures, thereby posing threats to the world's diverse approaches to conservation that are still found in surviving indigenous communities.