Co-management Arrangements Research Articles

Why They Cannot Work Together: A Study of the Co-Management of Natural Resources with Indigenous People in Taiwan

This study explores the reasons for the failure to establish co-managed protected areas (CMPAs) in Taiwan despite supporting legislation being in place since the early 2000s. The study adopts qualitative research methods to examine the case of the proposed Lumpi CMPA, in which the local indigenous people failed to persuade the government's district forest-management authority to designate a natural protected area under co-management arrangements in accordance with legislation. The study finds that insufficient motivation and its concerns about loss of control over forest management caused the district authority to snub the proposed co-management arrangements with the indigenous people. Although a legal basis for co-management clearly exists, it is apparent that Taiwanese authorities can avoid the intention of the legislation by administrative maneuvers. The study concludes that a combination of greater political will and more comprehensive legislation is required if CMPAs are to be established in Taiwan.

Assessing fishers' empowerment in inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh

The Community Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) approach has made a significant contribution towards improvement of fishers' empowerment of inland openwater fisheries in Bangladesh aiming to manage their resources efficiently. This arrangement introduced CBFM approaches named fisher-led, community-led and women-led approach. A wider range of local institutional arrangements as community based organizations (CBOs) have been established through participatory process with legal entity. Now, the CBOs as local institutions and fishers are more empowered in participation of fishery management under co-management arrangement. The study reveals that there is still lack of institutional arrangement to be achieved at optimum level. This paper presents and assesses the empowerment status of the fisher communities in inland openwater fisheries under co-management arrangement in Bangladesh through Factor analysis and regression model. This study might have policy implication to replicate the community based fishery management approach to promote empowerment for better management.

Developing a Resilient Co-Management Arrangement for Protected Areas: Field Experience From the Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor in Madagascar

In 2003 Madagascar committed to tripling its land in protected areas to conserve its unique biodiversity and essential ecosystem services. Implementing this commitment involved creating a new legal framework, selecting sites, establishing resource use rules, and developing governance arrangements. The Ankeniheny-Zahemana Corridor (CAZ) is among the most advanced in its establishment as a protected area with a co-management governance arrangement. Through literature review, we identified nine elements of good governance: clear resource governance goal, coherent institutional structure, clear rules, participation, transparency, monitoring, enforcement, equity, and transfer of authority. We analyzed the CAZ co-management system to explore the possibilities for improved governance at CAZ. Although the CAZ governance structure was not designed to address the nine theoretical elements of good governance, we found that it has emerged to respond to several of them. Additional research is needed to assess how to make changes that might improve governance based on these elements.

Trust relationships between fishers and government: New challenges for the co-management arrangements in the Dutch flatfish industry

Until the 1990s fisheries were largely managed by the state. Since then, Dutch government and the sector increasingly recognized that a fishing industry cannot be managed effectively without the cooperation and participation of fishers to formulate policy and to implement and enforce laws and regulations. As a result, in the nineties, the existing neo-corporatist arrangement was replaced by a co-management system in the Dutch flatfish fishery. Co-management is often seen as leading to greater procedural legitimacy and subsequently compliance. However, constructing an effective co-management arrangement is not only a matter of building institutions but also a matter of building trust relations between the government and industry. Institutional arrangements such as co-management can contribute to these trust building processes; however, a too strong reliance on institutional arrangements can lead to distrust when new challenges are being faced and institutional arrangements fail to adapt to these changes.

Community Attitudes Toward Wildlife and Protected Areas in Ethiopia

Across Africa, national policies that established protected areas (PAs) typically limited local use of wildlife and other resources. Over time, these policies have raised tensions with rural communities and today threaten to undermine conservation goals. This article examines community–PA relationships at four important sites in Ethiopia—a country of rich tradition with an unusual colonial past. Using focus groups and household surveys, we found that despite local tensions, most respondents held positive views toward wildlife and nearby PAs. Factors influencing positive views included receiving PA benefits, good relations with PA staff, higher education levels, being older, having a large family, diversified income sources, owning fewer livestock, and fewer incidents of wildlife conflicts. In contrast, the devolved control of PAs from federal to regional levels has not influenced community–PA relations as intended. Our results suggest that relations could be improved through involving communities in co-management arrangements, honoring resource tenure and use rights, providing benefits, and implementing conservation education programs.

Fire, Agency and Scale in the Creation of Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes

Much recent literature explores controlled burning practices used by people of different cultures to manipulate landscapes. Because humans have only recently been able to suppress fires occurring at larger scales these studies focus on activities occurring at the scale of sites as making the greatest contribution to creating cultural landscapes. In this study we examine the role of fire in the construction of Anishinaabe cultural landscapes in the boreal forest of northwestern Ontario. Through our work with elders of Pikangikum First Nation we examined Anishinaabe knowledge and relationships to fire occurring across spatial and temporal scales. Pikangikum residents perceive forest fires as beings which possesses agency and who intentionally create order in landscapes. This notion suggests that cultural landscapes are more than the physical remains of the sum of human activities. The possibility of non-human agents having a role in the creation of meaningful spaces prompts us to call for a reassessment both of the scale of inquiry and the nature of cultural landscapes. We conclude with a discussion of the benefits and potential constraints to inclusion of indigenous cultural landscapes in current co-management arrangements.

Network approach for understanding small-scale fisheries governance: The case of the Chilean coastal co-management system

Abstract Recent studies have focused on the study of social networks among local resource users, but few have attempted to study co-management networks. The objective of the research was to assess the Chilean shellfish co-management system from an organizational network perspective. Starting with one detailed case study, representatives of 38 small-scale fisher associations from two administrative regions were interviewed to investigate: (1) networks of actors in each co-management case, (2) the functions of these actors in co-management, and (3) fisher perceptions about Chile's co-management arrangement. Results indicate that decision-making is highly centralized and power is concentrated in government, with little horizontal exchange and cooperation among fisher associations. However, the network approach indicates the presence of a rich set of players, some seven sets of actors by function. Grassroots management innovations are hampered by the existing co-management structure, suggesting that the system may benefit from a modification of the policy to allow greater learning-by-doing and flexibility.

Value and management of the subsistence fishery at Knysna Estuary, South Africa

Knysna Estuary supports an estimated 30 full-time and 200 part-time subsistence fishers involved in bait collection, mud crab harvesting, and fishing. The mud prawn Upogebia africana dominates the bait-fishery, with estimated catches amounting to about 3% of the standing stock, suggesting sustainable use. Harvest of Marphysa spp. and Gorgonorhynchus dayi is conducted in a destructive manner. Most of the value of fishing lies in the setline catches of spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii and white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus, whereas small species and individuals, particularly Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi, are also caught with handlines. Indications are that the linefishery is also sustainable at present. The subsistence fishery is worth an estimated R0.7-R1.1 million per annum, with full-time fishers earning at least R11 000-R17 000 per annum from the estuary. Currently operating under recreational regulations, the fishery is poorly controlled and fails to reach its full potential. The main threat to the estuary from damaging harvests of bait species, such as Marphysa spp. and G. dayi, should be discouraged through heavy penalisation of buyers and traders. Sales of mud prawn could probably be legalised. If off-take rates are found to be sustainable, sales of certain fish species could be legalised if access to the fishery could be effectively controlled under a co-management arrangement.

Governance of Lake Chilwa common pool resources: evolution and conflicts

This paper reviews the evolution of the governance of Lake Chilwa fisheries since the colonial era. The socio-political and economic transformation of Malawi has shifted the roles of the traditional authorities who had jurisdiction over these resources based on their tribal settlement patterns and identity. The user community, including district assemblies, are experiencing difficulty implementing the management reforms in the decentralised fisheries. The traditional leaders are taking advantage of the recently adopted governance reforms by using the co-management arrangement with the Department of Fisheries to extract money from the seine fishermen in the form of tributes. This ‘elite capture’ of the resources is causing conflicts between the traditional leaders and user committees over authority to manage resource use. With limited support from the district assemblies and traditional leaders, the devolved fisheries functions will be difficult to implement.

Towards sustainable fisheries: Assessing co-management effectiveness for the Columbia River Basin

AbstractCo-management theory argues that incorporating local knowledge into fisheries science decision-making can lead to more sustainable fisheries through improved fishery dynamics, reduced harvest pressure, and increased regulatory compliance. The Maine lobster fishery, Japanese fishing cooperatives, and Alaska’s Community Development Quota Program are all considered successful models of fisheries co-management. Co-management arrangements between Pacific Northwest treaty tribes and state managers were first established in the 1970s, following court decisions upholding the tribes’ treaty rights to fish. However, the long-term effectiveness of Pacific Northwest salmon fisheries co-management is not fully understood. Here I present an historical analysis of co-management effects for the Columbia River salmon fishery, from both an ecological and social perspective. My research objectives are to (1) evaluate the perceived impact of tribal participation in salmon fishery management decisions (2) assess social, economic, and ecological impacts of fisheries co-management, and (3) understand barriers to co-management efforts in terms of institutional and political frameworks. Building on Evelyn Pinkerton’s research, I use archival materials, scientific literature, and interviews with key actors to define key developments in Columbia River salmon fishery co-management, including legal decisions and the establishment of tribal fish commissions. I then conduct a preliminary analysis of co-management effectiveness over time. Initial results suggest that tribal participation in fisheries management has led to ecologically and socially sustainable fisheries management practices in the Columbia River basin, although political disagreements have held back progress. For example, tribal fisheries co-management has led to improved ecological management practices, including new requirements for counting fish harvest levels and monitoring of habitat quality. Co-management has created economic opportunities, such as niche markets for native-caught fish and added-value processing, which can generate larger profits from smaller fish harvests. Increasing tribal fisheries capacity through co-management has also forwarded community efforts to ensure cultural survival by maintaining traditional fishing practices. Institutional and political barriers to co-management that include sovereignty issues, regulatory conflicts, and funding needs present challenges to resolving habitat management problems for the region.

Deliberative democracy and co-management of natural resources: The case of Funäsdalen snowmobile regulation area

The purpose of this article is to deepen the understanding of how co-management and deliberative democracy relate to one another. Deliberation is an understudied aspect of common-pool resource theory that could be developed by a closer connection to deliberative democratic theory. Co-management studies may also provide needed empirical insights to deliberative democratic theory. A framework is developed to analyze to what degree co-management arrangements incorporate deliberative elements. To test its usefulness, a case study of a co-management process in Sweden is analyzed. In Funäsdalsfjällen, a conflict-ridden situation caused by snowmobiles ended in agreement and the establishment of a municipal regulation area. Central and regional authorities initially failed to resolve the conflict, but when the municipality started working directly with the relevant interest groups, agreement was reached. Deliberative elements are shown central to the success, and it is concluded that co-management and deliberative democratic approaches indeed do cross-fertilize one another.

Gestão compartilhada ecomunitária da pesca no Brasil: avanços e desafios

Neste trabalho buscamos revisar as oportunidades e os desafios na implementação de sistemas de co-gerenciamento da pesca no Brasil. A metodologia de estudo foi baseada na análise e revisão de 116 referências bibliográficas a respeito desse tipo de experiências. O trabalho mostra fatores que têm sido chaves na criação e na manutenção de arranjos de gestão compartilhada bem como aqueles que representam os maiores desafios encontrados para o avanço na gestão compartilhada da pesca no Brasil.

Institutional Dimensions of Comanagement: Participation, Power, and Process

The arguments in favor of comanagement are relevant in many situations where there are conflicts over the use of natural resources. However, the complexity of factors associated with comanagement make its implementation difficult. A general conclusion of considerations based on analytical frameworks developed to study comanagement is that implementation can be facilitated through a design consistent with three key concepts: participation, power sharing, and process. However, since these concepts are treated ambiguously in the literature, their utility as guiding principles can be limited in real life situations. This ambiguity may be traced back to underlying theoretical assumptions, from either sociological or rational choice institutionalism embedded in the analytical frameworks of comanagement. Depending on the type of framework adopted, comanagement arrangements can be defined as either a success or a failure, indicating a need to develop more robust frameworks to guide politicians or managers introducing comanagement arrangements as an effective management tool.

Resilient Salmon, Resilient Fisheries for British Columbia, Canada

Salmon are inherently resilient species. However, this resiliency has been undermined in British Columbia by a century of centralized, command-and-control management focused initially on maximizing yield and, more recently, on economic efficiency. Community and cultural resiliency have also been undermined, especially by the recent emphasis on economic efficiency, which has concentrated access in the hands of a few and has disenfranchised fishery-dependent communities. Recent declines in both salmon stocks and salmon prices have revealed the systemic failure of the current management system. If salmon and their fisheries are to become viable again, radically new management policies are needed. For the salmon species, the emphasis must shift from maximizing yield to restoring resilience; for salmon fisheries, the emphasis must shift from maximizing economic efficiency to maximizing community and cultural resilience. For the species, an approach is needed that integrates harvest management, habitat management, and habitat enhancement to sustain and enhance resilience. This is best achieved by giving fishing and aboriginal communities greater responsibility and authority to manage the fisheries on which they depend. Co-management arrangements that involve cooperative ownership of major multistock resources like the Fraser River and Skeena River fisheries and community-based quota management of smaller fisheries provide ways to put species conservation much more directly in the hands of the communities most dependent on the well-being and resilience of these fisheries.

The designation of Fulufjället National Park: efficient co-management through downward accountability?

International obligations in nature conservation policy demand for decentralisation and co-management. Co-management arrangements are increasingly seen as forms of governance, which opens up for the critique that accountability becomes blurred when public–private relations are characterised by informality and negotiations. The purpose of this article is to examine the issue of accountability by comparing co-management theory and the decentralisation framework of Agrawal and Ribot, and by empirically analysing the designation of Fulufjället National Park. This case constitutes a blueprint for Swedish efforts to adhere to the international obligations for decentralisation and is thus an example of their implementation.

Challenges and Prospects of Fisheries Co-Management under a Marine Extractive Reserve Framework in Northeastern Brazil

In Brazil, Marine Extractive Reserves—MERs (Reservas Extrativistas Marinhas) represent the most significant government-supported effort to protect the common property resources upon which traditional small-scale fishers depend. From an initial small-scale experience in 1992, MERs have expanded countrywide, now encompassing 30 units (9,700 km2) and nearly 60,000 fishers. Despite such escalating interest in the model, there is little research on the effectiveness of MERs. In this article, we discuss relevant parts of the history and examine the current situation of the fisheries co-management initiative in the Marine Extractive Reserve of Corumbau, which was created in 2000 as the first MER to encompass coral reefs and reef fisheries. We describe the Extractive Reserve co-management arrangement and its main policy and legislative challenges. Finally, we discuss the prospects for the use of MERs as management frameworks for traditional small-scale fisheries in Brazil.

Dynamite fishing in northern Tanzania – pervasive, problematic and yet preventable

Dynamite fishing, although illegal, has resurfaced in recent years as a major threat to the reefs of northern Tanzania. This is despite the fact that institutional arrangements for co-management of the inshore fisheries by local communities and the district governments have been put in place and, through a 12-year donor-funded programme, numerous activities undertaken to build capacity for effective fisheries management. The use of dynamite is having widespread negative impacts, including damage to the reefs and their long-term productivity, deterrence of tourism investors, and potential threat to the large population of coelacanths in the area. The dynamite fishers are able to continue, even though enforcement efforts have been stepped up, because they are members of influential families or otherwise well-connected. Previous similar cases in Tanzania, and examples from elsewhere in the world, suggest that a major initiative is now needed to develop a zero-tolerance approach on the part of fishers and local and national leaders, that will shame the dynamiters through peer pressure, promote full implementation of sanctions and penalties by the judiciary, and lead to public recognition of and support for the work of the enforcement agencies.

The Potentials for Co-Management Approaches in Western Serengeti, Tanzania

Co-management arrangements are increasingly gaining popularity as an intervention to overcome the shortcomings of centralized management that impede harmonization of conflicting interests among the diverse stakeholder groups. The success of these arrangements depends, among other things, upon capitalizing on potentials existing in the area where they are intended to be implemented. This study was conducted in the western part of Serengeti National Park to analyze some potential for adopting the co-management approaches. We employed local communities' opinions, experience, knowledge, and attitudes to analyze these factors. The paper is framed around the premises that, among other things, co-management arrangements have the potential to work if: (i) the local communities have an outstanding level of awareness on the rationale of, and legal aspects pertaining to, wildlife conservation; (ii) the traditional institutions for management of natural resources exist and local communities have the ability to evaluate their performance, establish causes for inadequate performance and propose some workable solutions; (iii) local communities have the ability to evaluate different options for resource ownership and give valid reasons for opposing or supporting them. In conclusion we underscore the need for co-management approaches as an alternative intervention and a complement for current resource management approaches. We recommend promotion of local awareness on legal aspects of resource management, strengthening of traditional institutions for resource management and honoring people's choices of the types of resource ownership or rectifying the situations making them unpopular.

Land Claims and Comanagement of Protected Areas in South Africa: Exploring the Challenges

Comanagement has recently become the most popular approach for reconciling land claims and biodiversity conservation in South Africa and beyond. Following the resolution of land claims on protected areas in South Africa, comanagement arrangements have been created between the relevant conservation authorities and the land claimant communities who are legally awarded tenure rights to the land. However, it is doubtful that these partnerships constitute success for the former land claimants. Using the case of a "resolved" land claim in Mkambati Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape Province, as well as insights from comanagement literature, this paper identifies and discusses three key possible reasons for the unimpressive performance of comanagement in reconciling land restitution and conservation. The first one is the origins of the comanagement idea in the conservation of high value natural resources (e.g., fisheries, forestry), rather than in or including concerns for resource rights. The second reason is the neglect of key conditions for successful comanagement, as discussed in the comanagement literature. The final reason is the ambiguity in settlement agreements, including the use of terminology and concepts that reinforce unequal power relationships, with the state emerging as the powerful partner. This paper concludes that, unless there is a serious reassessment of the comanagement idea as a way of reconciling land reform and conservation, and a possible review of settlement agreements that have relied on comanagement, both the integrity of the "successful land claimant's rights" and that of conservation remain under threat.

Conflict management approaches under unclear boundaries of the commons: experiences from Danau Sentarum National Park, Indonesia

SUMMARY Research on the role of local institutions in conflict management is still limited. This study highlights various inter-settlement conflicts over the issue of unclear resource boundaries in Danau Sentarum National Park, Indonesia. The park is home to two major ethnic groups (Dayak Iban and Malay) whose livelihoods are highly dependent on fish and forest resources available in the park area. We demonstrate how local institutions (adat) are used to address boundary conflicts and consider their effectiveness. The study also discusses challenges that adat face in ensuring the effectiveness of conflict management. We argue that enhancing communication and developing a mechanism of exchange among settlements engaged in conflict will promote better understanding of the problem and thus allows improvement in the current approaches in managing conflict. We propose a co-management arrangement to ensure the sustainability of the park and to constructively manage the conflict in the area.