PROTECTED AREA AND LOCAL LIVELIHOOD The prospective of synergism between Protected Areas (PAs)and local livelihoods depend on the dynamic nature of people-protected area interaction, which are further influenced by various broader socio-economic and political variables as well as household and community characteristics. In developing countries with history of centralized PAs management, the change of political governance emphasizing decentralization might further affect the interaction between people and protected area. The Protected Area and Livelihood identifies major factors influencing the above linkages and analyzes how the decentralization policies of the government affected conservation and local livelihood.