An ounce of prevention : making the link between health and conservation

The study distinguishes two types of linkage in projects -- conceptual and operational. Conceptual linkage refers to the degree to which priority health issues in a community are directly related to maintaining biodiversity in the local environment. This linkage must be assessed from two perspectives: (1) the extent to which project staff perceive the health priorities of communities to be dependent on the existence of biodiversity; and (2) the extent to which community members perceive the interdependence between their own health priorities and conservation, either at present or in the future. Operational linkage, on the other hand, describes the ways in which project managers utilize health activities to achieve conservation outcomes. Four such ways or strategies are distinguished. (1) The barter strategy, which promotes biodiversity protection by providing particular health services in exchange for community involvement in conservation activities; (2) the entry point strategy, in which an organization provides health assistance in order to build a relationship with community residents in the hope of future collaboration on conservation activities; (3) the bridge strategy, in which the implementing organization undertakes a health intervention with the intention of linking it conceptually to conservation activities; and (4) the symbiotic strategy, which involves developing interventions based on known common ground between the health needs of a population and conservation goals. Lessons learned are as follows: (1) There is a relationship between the degree of linkage and the choice of strategy. (2) Strategies are dynamic. (3) Analyzing stated health priorities may reveal unseen opportunities for conservation. (4) Organizational capacity and site conditions should influence choice of strategy. (5) Health and conservation projects can address both internal and external threats. (6) Early results and environmental education are important no matter which strategy is chosen. (7) Monitoring of both health outcomes and the impacts of health interventions on conservation outcomes is essential. Recommendations regarding project design, management, and monitoring and evaluation conclude the report. Includes references.