Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• a renaissance of aboriginal culture in a number of western countries which has led to
renewed pride in traditional cultural practices
• the withdrawal of colonial powers in African and Asian states and the development of
new modes of administration and management
• the assertion of ownership of and/or access to natural resources through treaty
settlements and other legal channels
• changed government policies with respect to native peoples which has led to greater
economic and political self-determination
• greater political influence of aboriginal peoples.
The management of national parks has been substantially affected and a number of
changes have occurred at the micro level in parallel to the shifts which have occurred at
the macro-political level. This has occurred in a number of different locations and
jurisdictions but aboriginal peoples have gradually had a greater involvement in national
park management in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United
States. Hall (2000c) identified several factors in influencing these processes:
• A recognition that many supposedly 'natural' landscapes are the product of a long
period of aboriginal occupancy which has created a series of ecological conditions and
relationships which are dependent on certain types of human behaviour. This means
that the traditional knowledge of native peoples becomes a vital ingredient in effective
ecosystem management.
• Growth of the tourist appeal of some indigenous cultural attractions.
• Greater emphasis by park management authorities on the role of various stakeholder
groups, including native peoples, in park management and the development of
appropriate co-operative management strategies.
• Changed park management practices and strategies which are aimed at specifically
satisfying the concerns and needs of native peoples including, in some cases, the
management of national park lands owned by native peoples which are then leased to
park management agencies.
IDENTIFYING WILDERNESS
Although the values of wilderness are well recognised, for management and legislative
purposes such values need to be turned into a method by which wilderness values can be
mapped in space. In addition, such a process can assist in the provision of conservation,
scientific and tourism information, technical advice, recognition of management issues
and objectives, the integration of conservation and development, and the design of a
national conservation system.
According to Dasmann's (1973:12) classification of national parks and equivalent
reserves, wilderness areas have two principal purposes: 'that of protecting nature (defined
as primary) and that of providing recreation for those capable of enduring the vicissitudes
of wilderness travel by primitive means.' These purposes reflect the values of wilderness
