Corruption in community-based conservation: A synthesis of lessons

The document examines the vulnerability of community-based conservation (CBC) to corruption, specifically highlighting risks in land tenure, administrative processes, and revenue sharing. It argues that power imbalances and insecure resource rights enable elite capture and bribery, which can lead to resource overexploitation and project failure. To counter this, the author recommends strengthening institutional capacities, implementing social accountability tools, and ensuring inclusive definitions of 'community' to protect marginalized groups.

• Community-based conservation (CBC) is designed to achieve biodiversity goals by involving local communities in decision-making, providing economic incentives, and devolving authority over natural resources. However, these projects are often situated in developing countries characterized by high political corruption, patronage networks, and weak accountability.
• Corruption in CBC typically manifests in two primary forms: political and administrative corruption involving public officials, and elite capture, bribery, and collusion regarding the collection and investment of project revenues.
• Insecure communal land tenure is identified as a primary driver of corruption. When legal status is weak or land is state-owned, officials have broad discretion in mediating disputes, which increases susceptibility to improper influence and allows elites to grab community lands.
• The failure to accurately define and engage the 'community' often leads to the exclusion of marginalized groups, such as women, youth, and minorities. This allows local elites and powerful state leaders to exploit legal and social orders for their own benefit through patronage and collusive networks.
• Revenue collection and investment are highly susceptible to corruption, specifically through revenue leakage in partnerships with private entrepreneurs and 'elite dominance,' where powerful individuals block non-elites from improving their economic position using project funds.
• Anti-corruption strategies for CBC include institutional reforms (such as improved public financial management), social accountability tools (like participatory budgeting), and safeguards. However, social accountability may be less effective in authoritarian settings or against high-level political corruption.

APA

Gargule, A. (2022). Corruption in community-based conservation: A synthesis of lessons. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/115/kjjwt9s04_Corruption_in_CBC.pdf

Chicago

Gargule, Achiba. Corruption in community-based conservation: A synthesis of lessons. WWF International, 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/115/kjjwt9s04_Corruption_in_CBC.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gargule |first1=Achiba |title=Corruption in community-based conservation: A synthesis of lessons |publisher=WWF International |date=August 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/115/kjjwt9s04_Corruption_in_CBC.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gargule2022corruption, author = {Gargule, Achiba}, title = {{Corruption in community-based conservation: A synthesis of lessons}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/115/kjjwt9s04_Corruption_in_CBC.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }