Peace parks – en ny vision för fred och gränsöverskridande samarbete

Sammanfattning: In this study the concept of transboundary protected areas formally called peace parks have been analysed. Peace parks are created for the purpose to foster peace and cooperation between contesting states through conservation efforts in the form of international natural protection areas. The aim of the study is to find factors that can help explain why and how peace parks can be created. The peace parks in Cordillera del Condor between Peru and Ecuador have been used to further explain how these factors work. Transnational civil society, game theory and local participation through community-based conservation haven been applied in the case of Cordillera del Condor. In doing this, the aim is to contribute to theory development within the field. The results show that peace parks have the ability to contribute to peace and stability, provided the existence of a strong transnational civil society, that the states perceive strong incentives and acknowledge the possible common benefits of cooperation and that the local and indigenous communities are incorporated and allowed to take a greater part in decision making regarding the park.