Economics, Objectives, and Success of Private Nature Reserves in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America

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Abstract
Current efforts for habitat protection, based largely on government efforts to establish protected areas, are not keeping pace with biodiversity loss. The conservation community must explore means for in situ protection that supplement existing government efforts. One possibility is the privately owned nature reserve. In this descriptive study a written survey of privately owned nature reserves in Sub‐Saharan Africa and Latin America was undertaken to identify their economic attributes, initial objectives, and factors necessary for attaining those objectives. Data from 32 managers of private reserves revealed that reserves can be a profitable venture. Over half were realizing a profit, and profitability among reserves had risen 21% since 1989. Despite this economic success, they proved to be motivated more by conservation goals than by personal or economic objectives. Overall the respondents ranked management factors more important than geographic, social/political, financial, or stochastic factors for accomplishing reserves’ objectives. The presence of “interesting ecological attractions” was rated the single most important factor and those factors relating to government involvement were considered least important. The results show private reserves to be an important albeit little‐known example of private‐sector involvement in conservation. The results also provide a useful analysis for those interested in private reserves, those currently operating them, and those wishing to establish them.

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