Territories of life: Exploring vitality of governance for conserved and protected areas
Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend
Abstract
‘Territories of life’ sustain human communities that, in turn, bond with them through relations of heritage-- livelihoods, local knowledge, identity, affective care... naturally merging towards a desire for collective self-determination. Exploring a wealth of examples and the recent evolution of policies, narratives and support for ‘community conservation,’ this work elevates concepts and insights that may help communities to resist the unbridled commercialization of nature and restore the vitality of their territories. Facing planetary crises, self-strengthened custodians of territories of life supported by policies that secure their long-term governance may help navigate change and nurture meaning. Specific content: Examples of custodianship of conserved areas and protected areas; definition of governance vitality; characteristics supporting vitality in governance institutions; vitality self-assessment tools and indicators; conservation policies for vital governance and tenure security.