PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 9 Village voices challenging wetland management policies: PRA experiences from Pakistan and India

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 9 Village voices challenging wetland management policies: PRA experiences from Pakistan and India Michel Pimbert, Biksham Gujja and Meera Shah The context Both PRAs were designed to involve key government and conservation agency staff in experiential learning. Throughout the training This paper focuses on people -wetland workshops and appraisals it was emphasised interactions at two sites of international that `participation' is not simply the importance for conservation: the Ucchali application of a `method'. Rather, it is part of a wetland complex in Pakistan and Keoladeo process of dialogue, action, analysis, conflict National Park in India. Management plans for resolution and change. these wetlands were drawn up following western scientific principles and the internationally agreed guide lines of the New insights RAMSAR Convention (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance PRA findings from the studies have major especially as Waterfowl Habitat). policy implications for wetland management. These are discussed for each site below. In both cases effective protected area (PA) management has been hampered by the Keoladeo National Park (KNP), India passive or active opposition of local communities living in and around these KNP is a RAMSAR and World Heritage site wetlands. The threat of worsening ...