Sharing Power: A Global Guide to Collaborative Management of Natural Resources

Description

The collaborative or i? coi? -management of natural resources - whether between states and local communities or amongst and within communities themselves - is a process of collective understanding and actions to bring about negotiated agreements on roles, rights and responsibilities for decentralized governance of natural resources. At heart, co-management is about sharing power, one of the most difficult but rewarding experiences in personal and social life. The book is designed for professionals and people involved in practical co-management processes, and distils a wealth of experience and innovative approaches i? learned by doingi? . It begins by offering a variety of vistas, from historical analyses to a clear grasp of key concepts. Illustrated in detail is the understanding accumulated in recent decades on starting points for co-management, conditions and methods for successful negotiations, ideas to manage conflicts and types of agreements and co-management institutions emerging from the negotiation tables. Simple tools, such as checklists distilled from different situations and contexts, are offered throughout. Examples and insights from experience highlight the importance of participatory democracy - the enabling contexts where i? sharing poweri? is ultimately possible and successful. Published with IIED and IUCN.

Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend is co-chair of the IUCN/CEESP Collaborative Management Working Group. Michel Pimbert is Director of the Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Livelihoods Programme at IIED. M. Taghi Farvar is Chair of IUCN/CEESP. Ashish Kothari is co-editor of Managing Protected Areas (2006). Yves Renard is a consultant in natural resource management.

Sharing Power is without question the most complete and detailed sourcebook available to date on how to frame, prepare and actually engage in co-management.' Steve Brechin, professor and author of Resident People and National Parks 'Sharing Power represents an impressive outcome from a long period of reflection on the topic of co-mangement by the authors ... a very useful resource.' Environmental Conservation 'Sharing Power brings together an incredible range of experience from diverse communities and countries, illustrating the complexities and unique contexts in which management transitions are occurring [...] it is a 'must read' for all who care about the future of Earth's wonderful natural resources.' Mark Poffenberger, executive director of Community Forestry International 'Sharing Power adopts a critical approach, not only toward the older top-down strategies of land management accepted in most of the Western world, but also toward assessing the new approaches which are increasingly being adopted... Case studies, including both successes and failures, are included and demonstrate the value of creative approaches to land management. The text is illustrated not only with real-world examples, but with regular guideline summaries and checklists for planning purposes. Sharing Power certainly challenges land management agencies to not only move ahead, but to subject their practices to continuing scrutiny and assessment.' Electronic Green Journal 'When picking up this book, you feel that the authors have really left no stone unturned in their quest to unveil the secrets of successful co-management. Examples are drawn from agriculture, agriculture research, water management and pastoral societies, forest resources, fisheries and coastal resources, mountain environments, management of wildlife and protected areas... Sharing Power is the product of creative tension between realities and visions, what is and what could be, especially in response to external forces that affect local communities, other actors and the natural environment. As such, it is an inspiring piece of work.' GRAIN