The Role of Religion in Community-based Natural Resource Management

Abstract

While community-based resource management (CBRM) systems frequently include religious beliefs, little has been done to explore and document the role that religion may play in traditional CBRM. To address this gap, in this paper we present the results of a meta-analysis of the role that religion plays in CBRM. We find that several important governance functions are implemented as religious practices and through beliefs in the supernatural. We also find that religious governance can positively affect natural resource conditions. We conclude that such belief systems should be accounted for as new policy interventions are implemented.