6 Reasons Why Nature-Based Enterprises Can Be A Good Thing For Protected Areas

It seems counter-intuitive.

So few places in the world are set aside for nature. And those that are, are under increasing pressure.

So why would we ever think it is a good idea for economic activity and conservation to co-exist? Why is the ‘lock it up and throw away the key’ model not always the best for nature?

Here are 6 reasons why nature-based enterprises and sustainable economic activity can be a good thing for protected areas.

1. People will protect what they are invested in

Enterprises linked to the integrity of natural capital, ecosystems services and unique cultural and conservation values are incentivised to protect those spaces. Otherwise, as the natural capital base erodes, so too does the means of production and revenue along with it.

2. Many people benefiting from nature can translate to political support for conservation

The more people who benefit socially, culturally and economically from protected areas, the more likely they are to support the protection of existing reserves and the creation of new ones. This matters politically when different land use options are being weighed up by governments and other decision makers.

3. Sustainable commercial activity provides a productive alternative to business-as-usual

Regional, remote and rural communities may not have many other viable alternatives to traditional extractive industries, like mining, forestry or industrial agriculture. Nature-based enterprises not only directly create jobs, but also support regional economies by buying goods and services locally. In many remote parts of Australia, for example, Indigenous Protected Areas are a powerful driver of economic development, providing communities with meaningful jobs looking after country and measurable benefits in health, education and social cohesion.

4. Increased access and enjoyment

Especially if the enterprise is experiential, like an ecotourism venture or nature-based recreation activity, it may be one of the only ways some people may be able to access those areas. Similarly, cultural tours and experiences led by Indigenous people provide insight into traditional ecological knowledge and values that we may not otherwise have the privilege to access. These activities often enhance enjoyment of protected areas. We know we are more likely to care about what we understand, and protect what we care about. So more people connecting with, accessing and understanding nature can only be a good thing.

5. Most landscapes are not pristine

Even formal protected areas are usually not pristine and are far different from a completely ‘wild’ or unmanaged state. In Australia especially, most National Parks are already modified landscapes compared to the way those areas would have been managed prior to the dispossession of Aboriginal people from their traditional land by Europeans. Sometimes the most responsible management approach can include activities like selective harvest of natural materials or even low-impact grazing to manage weeds and fuel loads.

6. Decolonising conservation and supporting choice

If Indigenous people want to use their traditional land for commercial benefit, it is morally problematic for the broader community to restrict this choice. Stripping Aboriginal people of their customary rights to land and sea resources - whether it is for mining, agriculture, urban development, or indeed conservation - is a form of colonialism. The ethical thing to do is to support Indigenous people to realise their aspirations for Country is ways that are sustainable, inclusive and culturally compatible, rather than to dispossess them all over again, this time in the name of conservation.