Abstract

CHOLES-POVEA, Ornella  and  ESLAVA-RINCON, Julia-Isabel. Challenges of Polycentric Governance for Ecotourism in Protected Areas. Case of Los Flamencos Fauna & Flora Sanctuary in La Guajira, Colombia. Letras Verdes [online]. 2023, n.34, pp.7-27. ISSN 1390-6631.  https://doi.org/10.17141/letrasverdes.34.2023.5818.

The Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary, SFFLF, located in the department of La Guajira in Colombia, represents a Protected Natural Area, PNA, for which the development of economic activities must be aligned with conservation objectives and governance frameworks. This study focuses on the analysis of polycentric governance practices, PGP, for ecotourism within the SFFLF, based on the situational analysis of failures in collective action and coordination, due to the convergence and overlapping of various decision centers, each one with multiple powers of state and community authority. Applied qualitative research was conducted, employing interviews, participatory workshops, and document review. The operationalization and adaptation of Hufty's Analytical Model of Governance (2009) were used, along with descriptive and normative actor analysis. The findings reveal the nature of failures in coordination processes among stakeholders, low levels of trust that constrain cooperation for collective action, challenges in the alignment of ecotourism planning and management, and community participation. Such dysfunctions within the polycentric governance framework of the protected area hinder local development and are further compounded by the involvement of usage, ownership, and governance rights of ethnic groups, as well as the lack of suitable incentives for formalization and the establishment of cooperation agreements to foster economic activities.

Keywords : community development; ecotourism; governance; natural heritage; regional development planning.

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