The social sustainability as a condition for conservation:\ud the case of Ilha do Mel – Brazil

It is a consensus that the implementation of protected areas in inhabited places should attempt to match economic development and nature conservation. The aim of this research is to assess the compatibility between the tourism model developed at Ilha do Mel (Brazil) and its conservation. The field work consisted in interviews to key informants and to a representative sample of the economic agents of Ilha do Mel. The analysis attempted to integrate various sustainability dimensions considering its inter-relationship, and having the social sustainability of the population majority as the main criterion. The results reveal that the conflict between conservation and development at Ilha do Mel is centred in the question of who receives the benefits generated by the actual development model. The natural landscape is the major attractive of the local tourism; it is proposed that the extension of the tourism benefits to the majority of the population would increase the probability of engaging them in the conservation. However, this extension of the benefits will not happen spontaneously by the market action. A conscientious and committed governmental intervention is proposed, in order to control the market and protect the majority of the population