Building Relationships with Communities by Working Together
Our most successful examples of community groups engaging in the preservation and promotion of cultural and natural heritage are those where we have built strong relationships between the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) as National Park manager and community leaders - in one case, a community leader was a former employee of the JCDT. Relationships go beyond just a project or activity to spending even personal time e.g. attending community cultural events on a weekend. Relationships are two-way so there need to be activities where each organization does something that benefits the other – again, in our two most successful examples – the two community groups play key but different roles in the National Park’s cultural festival – one as performers and the other for food preparation. One of the groups is also responsible for calling into the office on sighting of an endemic species of animal found mainly around that community – this information would not otherwise be available to the National Park.
The Protected Area Manager must be willing and able to listen to the needs of the local community stakeholders and point them in the right direction if assistance cannot be provided directly. Use informal discussions as well as formal meetings and workshops.
• Building relationships requires building trust and accountability – both parties need to know the other can be relied on e.g. to provide the funds and/or support promised in a timely fashion. So for example, if JCDT invites a group to participate in an event – they turn up on time and provide a professional performance and JCDT ensures they are paid on time after the event but with a mobilization fee so that they can pay for transportation to attend the event.
• Don’t promise more than you can deliver and ensure as Protected Area manager that you explain your constraints.
• Don’t expect community groups to provide free services to the National Park – the National Park and community group must have a professional, business relationship – a discount can be requested but value must be placed on the input from the community group.
• Benefits must be mutual.