On the Interplay of Actors in the Co-Management of Natural Resources – A Dynamic Perspective

Abstract

Co-management of natural resources, i.e., management shared between multiple actors, has received increasing attention as it is seen to enhance sustainability of resource governance. However, there is little empirical research to date that examines the dynamics of the interplay between actors over time. We present two case studies from the highlands of Ethiopia that trace interactions between governmental and community actors in the governance of local natural resources through history, over a period of 50–150 years, and discuss implications of our analysis for the concepts of “co-management” and “adaptability,” and for the design of joint resource management schemes.