Abstract

MARTINEZ RODRIGUEZ, Zulma. Co-management of natural resources in the Colombian Atlantic coast region. Innovar [online]. 2004, vol.14, n.23, pp.158-167. ISSN 0121-5051.

Managing natural resources constitutes a transfrontier, interdisciplinary problem which has been at the root of many conflicts. It embraces not only the field of biology but social, economic and political fields too. Inefficiency in managing natural resources in Colombia has become critical today, particularly in the Atlantic coast region, as shown in this article. The author examines this problem from a historical, multidiscipline viewpoint and analyses actors within local, national and international settings by applying concepts related to biodiversity, ecotourism and protected areas (natural parks). The argument centres on co-ecotourism as an effective option for improving managing natural resources, it analyses the process of Atlantic coast communities' participation and empowerment as part of the process of managing protected areas by channelling international entities' financial and technical resources towards State institutions and local communities.

Keywords : Biodiversity; protected areas; natural national parks; conservation; co-management; ecotourism; social actors; development; coecotourism; Colombian Atlantic coast region.

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