Keywords: Protected areas Institutions

diversity conservation may well depend upon the ability to experiment successfully with a range of insti-due in part to a vocal reaction against them in many parts of the world. This reaction is particularly visible in arguments around dis-placement and conservation refugees (Schmidt-Soltau and Broc-kington, 2007). Nevertheless, a large proportion of the world’s species – marine and terrestrial – remain outside strict protected areas (Karieva, 2006; Rodrigues et al., 2004; UNEP-WCMC, 2007). servation, a large body of research also suggests the importance of alternative governance regimes in curbing deforestation and maintaining sustainable use patterns for extended periods (Bray et al., 2003; Nepstad et al., 2006). Indeed, the future of biodiversity conservation may well depend upon the ability to experiment suc-cessfully with a range of institutional forms, including those that permit human use. Conservation policies frequently overlook the contribution of alternate resource governance regimes towards biodiversity con-servation, particularly institutional arrangements that permit hu-man use. Although an increasing number of conservation project