As the world's population grows and the demands for natural resources
increase, protected areas are becoming more important, but also more
threatened. On the one hand, conservation of protected areas can
contribute to the safeguarding of human rights; on the other hand,
neglecting human rights can be a trigger for the mismanagement and
destruction of protected areas. How can an objective and systematic
approach be used to balance human rights protection and the conservation
of protected areas? A well-balanced human rights-based approach seems to
be the answer.This book draws lessons from Europe on how certain human
rights can empower individuals, local communities and environmental NGOs
in order to enhance their role in conserving protected areas in China.
The author introduces the theory of a human rights-based approach to
conservation and points out its advantages and challenges. Next, four
main human rights, namely the right to property, the right to
information, the right to participation and the right to access to
justice, both in China and in Europe, are analysed in a theoretical and
historical way. The key features of these four human rights are
examined, as are the main reasons for their different approaches in
China and in Europe. Thirdly, the book makes suggestions for how to
implement a human rights-based approach to the conservation of protected
areas in China, based on the experiences and lessons from the European
legal system. In the last part, the author draws a general conclusion
and suggests an outlook for the future.
