Rethinking conservation: Social injustices and the case for convivial conservation in Ghanas Kyabobo National Park

Conserving biodiversity for the benefit of present and future generations has driven global efforts toward the establishment of protected areas. However, balancing conservation goals with the need to sustain the livelihoods of local communities remains a significant challenge for protected area managers. The management of the Kyabobo National Park in Ghana, which employs restrictive conservation approaches, has been marked by social injustices toward people living in fringe communities around the park. Despite the prevalence of such issues, recent studies on the park have not adequately examined the dimensions of social injustices related to its creation, the ongoing management practices, or the impact of these injustices on local perceptions and attitudes toward conservation in this and other protected areas in Ghana. This study utilized remote sensing, geographic information systems, surveys, and interviews to explore the social injustices associated with Kyabobo National Park and their implications for the park’s ecosystem's current and future well-being. The findings reveal that nature-versus-human dualistic conservation strategies are fraught with social injustices. It is argued that adopting a convivial conservation approach in the management of Kyabobo National Park offers a more equitable strategy for fostering coexistence between human and more-than-human natures.   Key words: Protected areas, national parks, social justice, livelihood risks, indigenous knowledge, human-nature dualism.