Exit the Dragon? Collapse of Co-management at Komodo National Park, Indonesia

A collaborative management initiative at Komodo National Park, designed to balance tourism and biodiversity conservation, collapsed after just five years despite significant investment. The study identifies the failure as rooted in the narrow design of the initiative and the political ecology of Indonesia's civil service, characterized by persistent corruption and weak environmental awareness. This research highlights the challenges of managing complex social-ecological systems, particularly in World Heritage Sites with high tourist interest and diverse stakeholder involvement.

Cochrane, J. (2013). Exit the Dragon? Collapse of Co-management at Komodo National Park, Indonesia. Tourism Recreation Research, 38(2), 127–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2013.11081740