Some species play a key cultural role in our lives - could that be used to protect nature and benefit local people?
Abstract
This paper focuses on the importance of some culturally important species (CIS), which should be regarded as a highly relevant aspect of conservation strategies in places where natural resource use is critical to local livelihoods. Management initiatives focusing on the recovery of CIS and their roles in stimulating the interests of local people, their engagement and compliance, as well as local surveillance against infractions are discussed. The positive ecological, social, cultural and economic outcomes of CIS management and its effectiveness as a tool to reconcile biodiversity conservation with local people quality of life are highlighted.