Natural Resource-based Development Research Articles

Book Review: Natural Resource-Based Development in Africa: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?

Book Review: Natural Resource-Based Development in Africa: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?

Common pool resource dependency of fisheries based rural households: An evidence from North-east India

The study was conducted in the state of Tripura to investigate common pool resource dependency and found that households involved in collecting common pool resources showed ‘U’ shaped relation with households’ current income in a given year. This indicates poorest and richest were depending more on common pool resources than intermediate income quartile. These results suggest that common pool resources play significant role in generating income for poor as well as rich households. Probit model was used to understand the resource dependency of the sample households which showed that timber wood collection, fodder collection, fuel wood collection, collection of tuber crops and capture fishery had significant impact on improving the household income. The study suggests feasibility of natural resource-based development strategies for alleviating poverty and accumulation of productive assets of rural households. Keywords: Common pool resources, North-east India, Poverty trap, Resource dependence, Resource led development

The impacts of Resource Development Projects on Community Livelihoods in Papua New Guinea: A Case Study From Mining and Agriculture Projects

The impacts of natural resource development projects have documented positive impacts on local communities, but there is much less evidence of long-term community impacts or benefits as development outcomes. Understanding these impacts of resource development projects on communities’ livelihoods, stability and prosperity is fundamental to the achievement of sustainable development outcomes in rural communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG), as it plays an important role in the livelihoods of rural population. To explore the relationship between natural resource-based development projects and community livelihoods capacity as sustainable development outcomes, an interview data from 90 participants in two provinces of PNG associated with resource projects were collected and analyzed. Community livelihoods impacts were assessed using Likert Scale and thematic network analysis to determine impacts on development outcomes on stability and prosperity in the community. The findings demonstrated that the scale and levels of impacts on communities in terms of livelihoods assets-bases, stability and prosperity; were reflective and indicative of the form and nature of development projects in the region, and the difference in development stages of natural resource projects in each of the regions. Keywords: Natural resources projects, mining, agriculture, community livelihoods, sustainable development outcomes, stability, prosperity.

Innovation and natural resource-based development: case of natural rubber sector in Kerala, India

ABSTRACTIt has long been held that natural resource abundance retards economic growth. Studies using innovation system perspectives, however, suggest that natural resource abundance per se need not stand in the way of evolving a growing and diversified economy while the absence of learning and innovation could. In this context, the present study explores why Kerala has not been successful in evolving new production and industries linked to established natural resource industries. This issue has been addressed by taking the case of natural rubber known for its R&D-led output growth and productivity enhancement. Analytically, it draws insights from the ongoing discourse in the innovation system literature that distinguishes between narrow and broad approaches to innovation processes. It is argued that while the narrow approach to innovation could lead to increased productivity and growth of natural rubber under tariff protection, it could not help in evolving a vibrant rubber-based industrial sector by harnessing backward and forward linkages. In sync with the studies that underline the complementary role of science-based learning and experience-based learning in accomplishing innovation-led long-term development, the paper makes the case for evolving broad innovation strategy in natural rubber to build linkages among various actors and heterogeneous knowledge bases.

An examination of linkages in the sawn wood sector of the Nigerian forest industry: Policy implications for natural resource-based development

Proponents of natural resource-based development have argued that backward, forward and lateral linkages around natural resources can bring about structural change. However, there are very few studies on the development potential of natural resources in developing countries, specifically on non-petroleum related industries. This study examines linkages in the sawn wood sector of the Nigerian forest industry, in particular the saw mill and artisanal metal fabrication sectors which represent forward and backward linkages. Using a qualitative approach to obtain a detailed historical perspective, the study reveals that foreign inputs were gradually replaced by local inputs through the spontaneous efforts of artisans using the Doing, Utilising and Interacting (DUI) mode of learning and innovation to fabricate band saws and accoutrements used by the saw millers. Furthermore, problem solving skills have been acquired by the artisans over the years through the fabrication of these machines and interacting with the production activities of the millers. Export of machines by the artisans to regional low technology demanding countries were revealed. In addition, evidence of lateral linkages in form of movement of the fabricators to the manufacturing sector was also reported. While the sector shows promise for structural change, advances in technological competence of the sector is however being curtailed by a lack of access of the artisans to Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) based modes of learning and innovation and a vibrant iron and steel industry. In addition, production activities are being limited by an inadequate supply of timber due to the country's rapidly degrading forests. This in turn has restricted learning and competence building opportunities. For the industry to attain its full development potential, policy recommendations include revitalising the country's iron and steel sector, commencing the award of degrees in wood products engineering, fostering linkages between the artisans and formal knowledge infrastructure, initiating proper sustainable forest management practices and providing relevant physical infrastructure.

Editorial

<p>Today, the Asia Pacific region is one among the fastest growing region in the world with strong economic growth. Due to globalization, world economy has undergone significant changes. While Europe’s economic growth has been slowing down, Asia Pacific’s consistently shows an impressive growth. In the next few years, the economic growth in the region will remain strong, in parallel with improving living standards in the region. With its huge population and strategic location, Asia Pacific offers many opportunities for countries outside the region to embark on collaboration and economic cooperation.</p><p>Papua and PNG are integral parts of Asia Pacific and play a strategic role in the region. Papua and PNG share commonalities in terms of economic development’s approaches. Both regions rely on extractive economies which depend on the exploitation of natural resources. Papua and PNG posses enormous and extraordinary biodiversity, unique to the region. But natural resource-based development has not only threatened but also undermined any effort to protect region’s diverse flora and fauna. With the emergence of Asia Pacific as a new economic powerhouse, the growth has transformed indigenous communities and their livelihood including their economic, cultural and social institutions as well as their relationship with their environment.</p><p>Moreover, although Papua and PNG are resource-rich regions, both have a substantial number of populations who live in poverty or extreme poverty. Income distribution in Papua and PNG demonstrates that there is a striking gap between the poor and the rich. On top of that, the provision of basic services such as education and healthcare is still unevenly distributed. While cities are generally well-served, some areas in the hinterland suffer from a lack of teachers and medical personnel. The fundamental challenges faced by Papua and PNG lie precisely in these aspects: economic, social, cultural and environmental.</p><p>Considering the importance of human development and biodiversity in Papua’s and Papua New Guinea’s contexts, efforts are needed to develop the region, while at the same time, to save and protect region’s immense diversity by improving the quality of life, promoting sustainable development in all sectors, preserving natural resources, and improving community awareness. Furthermore, there is a need to conduct more research and studies related to above mentioned components in order to support better development efforts in the region.</p><p>Papua and PNG have been collaborating in the education sector for a long period, which takes the form of research collaboration, student exchanges, seminars and symposia. This long standing collaboration has strengthened bilateral relations between Papua and PNG. This symposium has persist this tradition as well as add a new tone in the framework of knowledge sharing between educators in Papua, PNG and abroad by bringing together some crucial issues in social sciences and biodiversity in Papua and PNG. Additionally, this symposium is also an important moment for Cenderawasih University as the symposium will be held to commemorate the university’s 53rd anniversary and to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Papua-Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.</p><p>Cenderawasih University was established on November 10th, 1962. Cenderawasih University is the oldest university in Papua and has committed to develop its human resources and determined to implement the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi or the Three Principles of Higher Education which focuses on education, research, and contribution to society. This momentum of holding International Conference on Social Sciences and Biodiversity of Papua and Papua New Guinea in Cenderawasih University was vital given that some distinguished experts are gathered from around the world presenting their finest research. We highly expect that this event had inspiring researchers who are interested in exploring further research on the social sciences and biodiversity around Papua and Papua New Guinea. </p>

Sustainable indigenous futures in remote Indigenous areas: relationships, processes and failed state approaches

In many Indigenous territories, continuing processes of primitive accumulation driven by governments’ claims to resources and territory simultaneously deny Indigenous rights and insist on market forces as the foundation for economic and social futures in Indigenous domains. Drawing on research in North Australia, this paper identifies the erasure of Indigenous governance, the development of wickedly complex administrative systems, continuing structural and procedural racism and state hostility to Indigenous rights as constructing Indigenous vulnerability to poverty, addiction and underdevelopment. Shaping sustainable Indigenous futures in remote areas that are characterised by long-term development failure requires rethinking of remote local and regional economic relationships. Recognising remote regional economies as hybrid economies that rely on environmental, social and cultural wealth is an important first step in reorienting policy settings. It is also crucial that we acknowledge sustainable Indigenous futures cannot arise from policy interventions that rely on creating wealth for state and corporate appropriation and assume enough of this wealth can be redistributed to local Indigenous communities to constitute ‘development’. Politically constructed crisis interventions, such as Australia’s recent actions in remote Northern Territory communities, represent a failure of state relationships rather than an appropriate and sustainable response to the challenge of Indigenous vulnerability. This paper argues that attention to Indigenous rights and development of good relationships and good processes of governance, autonomy and responsibility within communities as well as between them and governments is fundamental to sustainable Indigenous futures. Without this, neither government programs nor large-scale natural resource-based development projects can deliver sustainable futures for remote Indigenous groups.

Struggling with Honduran poverty: The environmental consequences of natural resource-based development and rural transformations

Export growth through agricultural diversification has been the basis of development strategies in Central America since WW II. This article examines the impact of this strategy on inequality, impoverishment, and environmental degradation in southern Honduras. Analysis centers on the most important exports promoted in the region — cotton, cattle, and recently so-called nontraditionals — most significantly shrimp mariculture along the Gulf of Fonseca. The study demonstrates the systemic interconnections among the dynamics of agricultural development, patterns of capitalist accumulation, rural inequality and impoverishment and problems of environmental destruction. Conclusions point to the need for development policies to directly address the extremes of wealth and poverty in order to reverse environmental decline.