Sandwith, Trevor

Sometimes boundaries make geographical sense. Other times they are straight lines, imposed by colonial powers centuries ago. Today, territorial integrity is a foundation principle of the relations between governments, but even so, boundary conflicts are still unresolved in many parts of the world. This book demonstrates how transboundary conservation initiatives can help to defuse boundary conflicts, and sometimes even solve them.

Transboundary conservation areas are environmentally endangered regions that sprawl across international borders and contain multiple protected areas. Recent studies estimate that there are now 188 transboundary conservation areas in 112 countries, making up about 17 percent of the designated protected areas around the world. This book specifically examines 28 of these areas, found across all continents, from Asia to Antarctica, and in several oceans.

Protected areas are vital for life on earth. They safeguard biological and cultural diversity, help to improve the livelihoods of local communities, provide the homelands for many indigenous peoples and bring countless benefits to society at large. It is now generally understood that conservation planning cannot just be site-specific; plants and animals do not recognize national boundaries, nor do many of the forces that threaten them.