Institutional constraints to the integration of conservation and development: A case study from Madagascar

Abstract

Institutional constraints to the integration of conservation and development are discussed for the Amber Mountain Integrated Conservation and Development Project in northern Madagascar. Institutional experience, expertise, dependence on donor support, institutional agendas, competition for scarce resources, and institutional cultures, all contributed to an emphasis on conservation and a limited approach to development. Encouraging partnership between conservation and development institutions, both within nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and within government, is suggested as a strategy for overcoming these constraints. Structural changes to encourage collaboration are required, resources must be committed, and indicators of cooperative behavior must be established.