The relationship between protected natural areas and local human populations is extemely complex. This challenging book with diverse contributions from experts covering 13 countries, places the issues in context. Originally published in Spanish, it clearly demonstrates that people are part of most national parks, and policies which ignore their presence are doomed to failure. Each country section opens with an introduction to the protected area system and nature protection policy, followed by an analysis of the legal aspects of human occupation, and concludes with descriptions of management experiences.