Communities, Conservation and Livelihoods is a new freely-available book from the Community Conservation Research Network (CCRN). The book highlights the important role of local communities, around the world, in conserving their environment while sustaining their local economies and livelihoods. The book explores the variety of conservation initiatives within communities, what outcomes can be achieved for biodiversity and for livelihoods, how decision-making works locally, and the importance of Indigenous realities. A social-ecological systems lens is used, recognizing that human society and nature are inter-related. The book includes a range of real-world examples – ‘community stories’ describing local action and local solutions for positive change.
Communities, Conservation and Livelihoods is edited by Anthony Charles, reflects the work of forty contributors, and is co-published by the CCRN and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy. It is designed to be accessible to a diverse audience, including local communities, community groups, nongovernmental organizations, Indigenous organizations, government policymakers, and educational bodies (e.g., high school, college, university), among others.
