Abstract

Protected areas increasingly intersect with tourism and scientific research, creating dynamics that both support and challenge conservation, local communities, and ecosystems.  While these activities offer economic and conservation benefits, they also pose socio-economic pressures and ecological risks, especially in vulnerable contexts like Guinea-Bissau. This study focuses on Cantanhez and Boé National Parks, exploring the knowledge gap on how tourism and research activities shape socio-economic and ecological landscapes. Using a mixed-methods approach combining anthropology and conservation biology, it maps the distribution of these activities over two decades, evaluates their socio-economic and ecological impacts, and analyses community adaptive strategies. Data will be gathered through in-depth interviews, surveys, and participatory workshops involving stakeholders such as local residents, tourism guides, research assistants, and park guards. The study aims to provide a historical account and spatial analysis of human activities within the parks, offering insights into the interplay between conservation initiatives, tourism and community resilience. It will contribute to scientific understanding of the socio-ecological dynamics in anthropogenic landscapes and inform the development of strategies to mitigate conflicts, support sustainable livelihoods, and enhance biodiversity conservation – both in Guinea-Bissau and other contexts.

Team