Transcript Slide 1
Community based Natural Resource
Management: Impacts and Lessons
Learned from Southern Africa
Mike McGahuey and Bob Winterbottom
USAID/FRAME May 7, 2007
A word about FRAME
Funded by USAID to build knowledge sharing
networks among NRM professionals and decision
makers
Organized to facilitate access and use of knowledge
about NRM experiences, including:
What’s working and why
Emerging trends in NRM
Innovative and strategic options to address key issues
See: www.frameweb.org
FRAME/IUCN Assessments of CBNRM in
Southern Africa
Launched in 2005 with IUCN/SA and national CBNRM partners
to assess approaches for biodiversity conservation and
mainstreaming of CBNRM in implementation of UNCCD
Designed to improve cross-sectoral information sharing and to
maximize synergies between CBNRM, UNCCD, NWP
5 Country Studies: Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa,
Zimbabwe
Cross cutting papers:
linkages between CBNRM and desertification control
CBNRM impacts on livelihoods, poverty reduction and food
security
Planning a forum with practitioners and decision makers in the
SADC region in July 2007
Affinities between CBNRM Programs and
UNCCD National Action Plans
Promote favorable enabling environment (policies, legislation,
recognition of rural organizations)
Participatory, integrated approach with emphasis on capacity building
and partnerships
Increased management authorities by local communities
Support for sustainable utilization and improved management of NR
Encourage diversification of income generating activities and increased
livelihood security
Increasing emphasis on impact monitoring, improved reporting
CBNRM: proven approach to deliver results targeted by UNCCD; not a
panacea but can be embedded in broader sustainable livelihood / rural
development strategies
Impacts of CBNRM on Biodiversity
Conservation
Significant, positive impacts on
wildlife populations following
community mobilization for patrols
and monitoring, and transfer of rights
for increased local benefits and
sustainable use
6 fold increase in game in Nyae Nyae
Conservancy
Wildlife utilization has emerged as an
alternative land use (SLM) more likely
to prevent or reverse degradation
than traditional agriculture / livestock
grazing
Positive impacts on biodiversity now
affecting large areas outside of PA
networks (e.g. 11 million ha covered
by 50 Conservancies of Namibia)
Impacts of CBNRM on Poverty Reduction
Generated significant material benefits although
average direct economic impacts per household
generally modest
Livelihood options and benefits from CBNRM
programs can supplement income from agriculture
and livestock and reduce dependency on traditional
land uses
Serving as a vehicle to access micro-credit (Botswana)
Contributing to increased food security (Malawi)
Non material benefits also very important
Diversification, expanded economic options
Empowerment, negotiation with joint ventures
Enterprise development opportunities
Improved relations with government
Impacts of CBNRM on Governance
CBNRM proponents served as
catalysts for legislation to devolve
authority, strengthen local role in
NRM
Clarification of community rights to
benefit from wildlife has encouraged
the organization of transparent,
democratic institutions to manage
wildlife and benefit distribution
Community based CBNRM
institutions also serve as a forum to
reconcile conservation / economic
development objectives
Functioning CBOs also provide a
means for local level implementation
of UNCCD action plans
Emerging federations of CBNRM
organizations increase advocacy /
voice of local CBOs in national
dialogue
Experiences and Lessons learned from
the FRAME/IUCN assessments
Programs launched with an emphasis on conservation
objectives and revenue sharing from wildlife based tourism, but
longer term support is tied to effectiveness in addressing
poverty reduction, enterprise development opportunities
Economic impacts more easily leveraged in areas with
abundant wildlife resources; continuing challenge to generate
positive impacts and local buy-in from less well endowed areas
Synergies could be enhanced by more attention to information
sharing and cross sectoral collaboration with UNCCD, others
Continued attention needed for capacity building and long term
institutional development, clarification of rights, equitable
benefit distribution and facilitation of market access
Summing up…
Instead of asking, “How should we
conserve biodiversity?”, the
CBNRM Assessment asked, “How
has biodiversity been conserved?”
Major finding: The more that rules
for managing natural resources
are made/agreed to by local
populations and the more they
address local socio-economic
concerns, the more likely they will
be followed and the more likely
biodiversity will be conserved.
Looking ahead…
To extent this is true, should not USAID be asking
about programs it funds:
Do local populations participate in rule-making
processes and do these rules address local
interests?, or
Are rules an artifact of an outside-driven project
and therefore require long-term funding to
enforce?
For continued dialogue: please go to
www.frameweb.org/cbnrmlessons