Speaking with people in Egypt's St. Katherine National Park

Four bedouin tribes have traditional territories in the 4,500 - square-kilometer area of Egypt's southern Sinai Peninsula that is designated to become the St. Katherine National Park. Discussions with members of the four tribes revealed what benefits they hope to derive from the park and what contributions they intend to make to it. Bedouin views of the future of wildlife, tourism, and narcotics production are often compatible with those of park planners. International experience in protected-area management suggests that dialogue with local people may help create successful long-term means of reconciling human needs with environmental conservation. Specific measures for the St. Katherine park are proposed.