The politics of participation in a biodiversity conservation project: Analysis of a biological corridor project in Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, is a land of contrasts. It has incredible biodiversity richness but suffers high levels of poverty and lacks development options. Like many other places in Central America, the Osa Peninsula confronts a "conservation dilemma": how to provide socioeconomic benefits to the area residents while protecting the area's biodiversity richness. The Osa Biological Corridor Project (Osa BC) is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC), which is an effort to unify Central America's conservation actions. These projects can be categorized as an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP). The efforts to protect biodiversity and enhance development are widely debated. In response, some believe that enabling civil society participation for decision-making will help to resolve these challenges. Using a case study approach, this thesis analyzes the Osa BC strategy and its participatory approach. The thesis identifies obstacles ICDPs face in achieving meaningful participation, and offers some recommendations.