Transboundary Conservation Through Hybrid Partnerships: A Comparative Analysis of Forest Projects

Abstract

Transboundary conservation has acquired greater significance in recent years as international treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, have included such projects in their program of work. Since 1990, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) has been involved in several conservation projects that span international borders, which broadly include the following ecoregions: Borneo rainforest (Indonesia, Malaysia); Central African rainforest (Gabon, Cameroon, Republic of Congo); Southeast Asian forest (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand); and the Andean rainforest (Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia). This chapter provides an evaluation of these projects in terms of their potential for peace-building, which has been a stated goal alongside conservation. The methodology for the study involved a series of qualitative questions that were posed to ITTO staff, governmental officials and civil society professionals via an email survey. In the case of the Cordillera del Condor region between Ecuador and Peru, a community field visit also elicited responses from indigenous community members regarding the salient role of this case in conflict resolution between the two countries. The comparative case analysis reveals that efficacy of these projects is often limited by leadership from the donor community and host governments but international organizations such as ITTO have the potential to catalyze lasting cooperation.