Economic impact of Nino Konis Santana National Park on local community, Timor-Leste

Author: Humbelino Pereira Da Silva Pinto

AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-14-14

Year: 2014

Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)

Type: Thesis (M. Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2014

Examination Committee: Gopal B. Thapa (Chairperson); Jayant Kumar Routray, Mokbul Morshed Ahmad (Examination Committee Members)

Abstract: Primary purpose of the national park establishment is to conserve natural resources and wildlife . However, some of national park are still con tinuously threatened by destruction and illegal removal of natural resources by communities that living around the area protection. Without any doubt, the change in the status of the park is changing the way loca l communities relate to parks and resources . This study assesse s the economic impact of The Nino Konis Santa National Park (NKSNP) on local c ommunity. Particularly, it evaluates the views and opinions of the affected communities about related rules and reg ulations, crop productions, livestock, forest product collections and household’s income . This study is based on data collected from eighty households in the two selected villages in and around national park. The study identified that the forcing rules a nd regulations in the name of the conservation purpose had significantly reduced community farm land, crop production, and several types of livestock an d forest product s collection and associated with employment constraints . Prevention of local people from their customary rights of using forest land and forest resources to meet their basic needs without arranging altern ative gainful means of income generating activities had severely affected their h ousehold income. The extent of e ffect was relatively less i n the village with tourist activities as the vi sit of tourists had created non – farm employment and income opportunities for the local people. However , the employment and income accumulating from such opportunities were very limited and enjoyed by only a sm all percentage of the villagers. For the national park governed to have a sustainable livelihood of the local communities, it is an important to cle arly

Scholarship Donor(s): Human Capital Development Fund (HCDF)/Ministry of Education, Timor – Leste – AIT Fellowship

Note: A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning

Advisory: Full-text is available at https://library.ait.ac.th/ (accessible to local ip address only)

Search keywords index: Humbelino Pereira Da Silva Pinto Economic impact of Nino Konis Santana National Park on local community, Timor-Leste Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP) National parks and reserves — Timor-Leste — Economic aspects;