Recognizing differences and establishing clear-eyed partnerships: a response to Vermeulen & Sheil.

The article comments on the paper "Partnerships for tropical conservation," by Sonja Vermeulen and Douglas Sheil. The author claims the paper makes a strong case that partnerships between conservationists and local people. The author contends that the concept of partnerships must evolve away from notions of common goals and sharing decisions, rights, responsibilities and risks equitably, and towards specified outcomes associated with clearly understood expectations, commitments and roles.