Co-operative management of protected areas depends on a process of negotiation among stakeholders. This paper documented the history of conflict generation and resolution among local residents, public authorities, commercial farmers, grassroots organisations, NGOs and conservation scientists around Amboro National Park and Chore Forest Reserve in Bolivia. Residents of the protected areas had recently been empowered by the Popular Participation Law and were negotiating the terms of buffer zone tenure and management. A number of NGOs were involved in promoting appropriate agricultural technology. The authors highlighted the components necessary for evolving agreements and technologies for protected areas.