Measuring change without numbers: Evaluating social development in agroforestry conservation and development initiatives in Nicaragu

The merging of conservation and development in the 1980's has caused a rise in projects integrating local development goals and community-based practices with those of conserving biodiversity. The varying success ofthese projects has fuelled debate as to whether the model of integrating conservation and development is theoretically sound. The debate has centred around protected areas and quantitative assessment of success, neglecting the consideration of alternative conservation strategies and progress towards qualitative social development.;The main goal of this dissertation is to address these neglected research areas and contribute to improved conservation and development practice. A multi-site applied ethnographic approach was used to explore social development impacts, evaluation practices, and disconnects between the model and practice in three agroforestry conservation and development case studies in Nicaragua. In-depth interviews with participants and administrators, participant observation, and document review revealed three main findings: (1) In case studies with opportunities for participants to interact as a group, positive contributions towards social development were observed in terms of new knowledge gained, solidarity, social networks, and improved self-confidence in participants. More complex development change, however, was not evident; (2) Evaluations and reports of achievement in the projects did not capture social change in individuals or communities, or participants' perspectives, hindering a comprehensive understanding of project influence; and, (3) Rhetoric used in the project models implied development as a means to conservation as opposed to an end goal, and used an interpretation of development equated with economic growth. As a direct result, development activities focused on income generation as opposed to incorporating other activities that could facilitate social development.;The implications of these research findings for practitioners are twofold. First, to gain a comprehensive understanding of project impact and improve adaptive management, evaluation practices must incorporate methods to capture qualitative change. Tools and insights from the social sciences can contribute significantly to improving evaluation in conservation projects. Second, projects must incorporate activities other than income generation in order to achieve transformative social development. As opposed to abandoning the model, improvements are needed in practice to assist in better achievement of both conservation and development goals.