The Opportunity Costs of Conservation: A Political Ecology Perspective on Wildlife Protection and Rural Livelihoods in Boabeng–Fiema, Ghana

Wildlife conservation initiatives increasingly intersect with rural livelihoods, often producing uneven social and economic outcomes. Using a political ecology framework, this study examines the opportunity costs of wildlife protection and the governance dynamics shaping conservation outcomes at the Boabeng–Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) in Ghana. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions conducted across seven communities surrounding the BFMS, the study analyzes how conservation-related costs and benefits are distributed, and how power, authority, and cultural narratives influence decision-making and community responses. The findings reveal that while BFMS has contributed to biodiversity conservation, cultural preservation, and tourism development, these benefits are unevenly distributed and frequently bypass households most affected by conservation restrictions. Farmers, especially smallholders, migrants, and those farming near the sanctuary boundary experience significant livelihood opportunity costs through crop destruction by monkeys, limits on forest use, and the absence of compensation mechanisms. At the same time, revenues generated from ecotourism do not adequately offset the costs borne by farmers. Although conservation at BFMS operates through a hybrid of formal state regulations and traditional belief systems, decision-making power remains concentrated among state actors, management bodies, and select traditional elites, limiting meaningful community participation. While cultural narratives and taboos help sustain compliance, they also obscure power asymmetries that shift conservation burdens onto rural households. Policymakers should recognize that effective conservation depends not only on ecological outcomes but also on social justice, highlighting the importance of equitable benefit-sharing, inclusive governance, livelihood-sensitive conservation strategies, and strong institutional support for community-led conservation in rural resource-conserving contexts globally.