Participatory Management Planning Research Articles

Anthropization of Goroubi forest reserve (GFR) in North Benin, West Africa

The Goroubi forest reserve (GFR) is under pressure leading to its extinction. This research aims to contribute to the restoration plans of the said forest in the district of Birni-Lafia in north Benin. In order to achieve this, questionnaire surveys and interviews were conducted with 79 people through random sampling in all of the villages of the district. The importance value index (IVI) of the pressures and the response rate were calculated. Mainly occupied by the rônier (Borassus aethiopum) originally, the GFR is particularly threatened by agriculture (IVI = 1), illegal exploitation (IVI = 0.94), grazing (IVI = 0.64), hunting (IVI = 0.51) and herbal medicine (IVI = 0.36). These pressures cause the disappearance of plant species (100 %), animal species (94 %), land degradation (89 %), etc. Today, the dominant occupation unit is a rice growing area with 327.7598 ha of cultivated territory. Therefore, it seems that the GFR is losing its forest identity. It is necessary to create new participatory management plan for the forest, initiate reforestation activities, set up a fixed co-management committee for the forest and create annual reports on the state of management of its resources in order to limit these pressures.

The network analysis of organizations in watershed management toward sustainability in Northern Iran

Introduction: The integrated water resource management is considered for development planning and water and soil resources management with an emphasis on the socio-economic features of the region for sustainability. The main purpose of study was to identify the organizations involved in the watershed management of Chehelchay of Golestan province in Iran, as well as analyzing the types of communications and interactions between organizations in terms of intensity and type.Methods: Three networks of information exchange, coordination and participation were studied due to network analysis. Thus, the related organizations involved in participatory and comprehensive management of Chehelchay watershed (30 organizations) were introduced during the trips of the research team to the site and using special questionnaire. Then, the other specialized questionnaires were collected from the informed panels of each organization to provide the required data in the network analysis. A total of 84 specialists were interviewed. About half of the respondents (42 individuals) had graduate education and their average work experience was about 15 years. One third of the respondents (28 individuals) were women. The data analysis process was performed with UCINET6.631 and NetDraw.Results and Discussion: The results indicated that the density index in information exchange (31.5%), coordination (27.5%) and participation (10%) networks were less than average. In the participation network, the values of the density index are very low and coherence is the same among the networks (information exchange, coordination, and participation). The results of reciprocity index among the organizational actors in the networks of information exchange (31.10%), coordination (33.52%) and participation (10.13%) were also less than average. Therefore, identifying the key actors with high social power in the network of local natural resources is a requirement of watershed participatory management plan. The runtime and cost of implementing natural resource projects can be significantly decreased by understanding and deploying these organizations and individuals. Social power and comprehensive participatory management is generally the key tools for building trust between local natural resource users. A systematic shift is also required from governmental management toward governance in order to achieve sustainable natural resource and watershed management.

At the crossroads of co-management in a complex socioecological system: Lessons from the first participatory management plan in Chile

Co-management of a system or resource should be understood as an approach to governance in which there is some redistribution of power between the state and a community of users. Despite its potential utility, its application in traditional, hierarchically complex systems faces social challenges that impede self-organization and/or self-management. In a new attempt to promote the sustainability of fisheries in Chile, Management Plans were incorporated into the Fisheries Law in 2013. These plans were based on the Management Plan for the Contiguous Zone (MPCZ), the first participatory Management Plan of a fishery in Chile. While the plan failed to achieve self-organization and expired after 14 years, part of its legacy includes a framework for the operation and governance of Management Plans. In this article, we adopted a general socioecological framework to analyze and discuss the MPCZ and its governance model. The hierarchy established by the state has restricted the development of the management process and threatens its potential contribution to the sustainability of fisheries. Distrust among users, scientists and state officials has also been an obstacle to strengthening co-management. The Management Plans represent an opportunity for traditionally hierarchical administration of fisheries to evolve towards co-management, as long as the state modifies its previous strategies and chooses to strengthen and consolidate the participative processes.

Conservation bottom-up initiatives in marine recreational spearfishing suggest the emergence of positive attitudes towards conservation

We show that marine recreational spearfishers voluntarily organize bottom-up conservation actions. The main goals of these actions are to provide support to research in monitoring fish assemblages, tracking biological invasions or mitigating impacts on the environment, such as those stemming from pollution and littering. We show that such initiatives started more than 20 years ago and are now facilitated by social media networking. We argue that the emergence of bottom-up conservation actions in marine recreational spearfishers should be encouraged, supported and integrated into participatory management plans. This is important to mitigate the potential negative impacts of marine recreational spearfishing and to catalyse broader civil actions for conservation of marine ecosystems.

Participatory ethnobotany and conservation: a methodological case study conducted with quilombola communities in Brazil\u2019s Atlantic Forest

BackgroundAlthough multiple studies advocate the advantages of participatory research approaches for ethnoscience, few provide solid contributions from case studies that involve residents in all of the project phases. We present a case study of a participatory approach whose aim is to register ethnobotanical knowledge on the use of plants in two quilombola communities (maroon communities), an important biodiversity hotspot in the Atlantic Forest, Southeast Brazil. Our aim is to provide tools that will empower decision-making related to sustainable use and management among residents.MethodsIn phase I, the objectives and activities were defined in meetings with residents to carry out ethnobotanical surveys between two quilombola communities—the Quilombo da Fazenda (QF) and Quilombo do Cambury (QC). In phase II, we offered community partners training courses on how to collect plants and ethnobotanical data. In coordination with the university team and using ethnobotanical methods, community partners interviewed specialists on plants and their uses. In phase III, using the participatory mapping method, residents indicated plot locations and collected plants to calculate the Conservation Priority Index for native species recorded in phase II.ResultsIn 178 days of fieldwork, two community partners from the QF and three from the QC selected 8 and 11 respondents who reported 175 and 195 plant species, respectively, corresponding to 9 ethnobotanical categories. Based on requests from the local community, booklets and videos with these data were collaboratively produced. A large percentage of species were found to be of great conservation priority—82.1% in the QC and 62.5% in the QF. Virola bicuhyba, Cedrela fissilis, Plinia edulis, and Tabebuia cassinoides are the species most at risk and will be the focus of phase IV, when a participatory management plan will be carried out. Additionally, we present both challenges and opportunities with the hope that others can learn from our successes and failures.ConclusionsOur experience shows that it is possible to train community members who wish to document their knowledge to support the process of ensuring that local knowledge is highly regarded, further ensuring its perpetuation. In this context, the project may be of great interest to development programs in promoting community-based management strategies for useful plants.

Contribution to decision‐making on establishing the maximum water level for Lake Vegoritida

AbstractThe water level in Lake Vegoritida, Greece, has undergone great changes over the past decades attributable to severe water abstraction directly from the lake and its catchment, which affected not only the conditions of the natural environment, but also social and economic conditions. The water level of the lake is currently rising, with discussion of an agreeable decision about the desired maximum lake water level becoming a source of conflict among the lake stakeholders. The present study provides a framework for a participatory management plan, with the perspective of engaging all levels of lake stakeholders in the process of deciding and establishing the maximum lake water level. Kolb's learning cycle is used as a methodological vehicle in the proposed process of participatory decision‐making. Its contribution to decision‐making includes (a) identification of lake stakeholders and the issues arising from a potential establishment of a maximum lake water level; and (b) three suggested water level scenarios to facilitate a future constructive discussion directed to establishing a maximum water level in Lake Vegoritida.

Anthropogenic Stressors on Mangrove Ecosystem and the Emergence of Mangrove Refugia on Parts of the Eastern Atlantic Coastline of Cameroon

The Atlantic coastline that adjoins Mount Cameroon is facing an ecological crisis as its mangrove ecosystem is progressively being depleted. Main stressors relate to inherent human activities notably; uncontrolled mangrove extraction for fuel, the creation of touristic/recreational sites, settlement expansion and agricultural development. As a corollary, the two dominant species of mangrove-Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora racemosa that once flourished over a large area now appear in refugia particularly in the south western coastline of Fako Division. In this region, thirty eight mangrove refugia were identified. Their mean altitudinal location is 11m above sea level as they range from five to nineteen metres. The degradation of the mangrove is accompanied by a savanisation process. In order to enhance the ecological resilience and sustainability of the mangroves in the region, a simple management plan has been developed based on the concept of close area management. This plan, groups the mangroves into six principal lots wherein, each of them calls for a particular management system. Consequently, zonation, sensitization program and the creation of a participatory management plan to mention but these will enhance sustainable growth and exploitation of mangroves along the coastline of Cameroon.

Ecosystem Service Changes and Livelihood Impacts in the Maguri-Motapung Wetlands of Assam, India

Wetlands provide a diverse range of ecosystem services supporting livelihoods of many people. Despite their value, wetlands are continuously being degraded. There is scant information on individual wetlands, people’s dependency and their exploitation at a local scale. We therefore assessed wetland ecosystem services, the drivers of change and impacts of those drivers on ecosystem services and people’s dependency through a case study of the Maguri-Motapung Beel wetlands of Assam, India. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and community workshops. The analyses showed a total of 29 ecosystem services, and high dependency on these with five out of seven livelihood strategies sourced from ecosystem services. Over-exploitation of wetland resources and siltation were reported as the major direct drivers of change with impacts on both ecosystem services and people’s livelihoods. Drastic decreases in availability of thatch, fish stocks, fodder and tourism were observed. This suggests that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive participatory management plan. Actions are needed to maintain the Maguri-Motapung Beel wetlands and the flow of services in order to sustain people’s livelihoods in the area. With an estimated 50% global loss of wetlands in the last century and the loss of 5,000 square kilometers a year in Asia alone, the loss of ecosystem services and livelihood impacts shown in our study may be typical of what is occurring in the region and perhaps globally.

Towards understanding and resolving the conflict related to the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) conservation with participatory management planning

Conflicts often arise in relation to the conservation of protected predator species. If stakeholders are well defined and involved in participatory processes, their views and perceptions can be incorporated and steps can be made towards resolving such conflicts. In this paper, a case from Hungary is presented. In this case, a participatory management planning process was initiated in the Jászság Special Protection Area of European importance (SPA), within the frame of a LIFE+ project focusing on the conservation of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). It provided a good opportunity to address a complex conflict situation between nature conservationists, game managers and farmers. We identified structural conflicts such as contradictions between direct agricultural payments and nature conservation goals, conflicts related to different views of the main influencing factors, relational problems between various stakeholders, and even differences in value orientation. The participatory management planning process was successful in clarifying the conflict situation and making productive steps toward a common understanding and resolution. Besides the mutually agreed conservation measures, the establishment of an administrative and financial incentive such as the high nature value area (HNVA) scheme proved to be an especially important factor for mitigating the conflict. It also contributed to a more successful realisation of nature conservation objectives in an area dominated by private land owners. However, continued interaction and cooperation are needed to stabilise this progress. Our paper also shows that stakeholder involvement in conservation management planning can transcend the strategic dimension of participation, and address broader common values besides the interests of land user groups.

Environmental health in Alpuyeca, México. An ecosystem approach.

Background: Alpuyeca has a complex environmental health problematic showing high lead concentrations in children blood samples, high incidence in dengue and gastrointestinal diseases and high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in agricultural and habitational soils (range 41 mg/kg-34,710 mg/kg). Aims: Identify, quantify and reduce environmental health risks in Alpuyeca involving the proactive participation of community, authorities and multidisciplinary team of researchers. Methods: Participatory action research (PAR) with environmental health methods (environmental sampling, biomarkers, risk assessment) and health promotion methods (coalitions buildings, PRECEDE-PROCEED model). Results: A participative space was created (CASITA) for collaboration and activities planning. Baseline study showed fecal contamination evidence (bacteria, enteric virus) founded in two wells, 3 river sampling points (recreational areas) and 20 houses. An average of blood lead levels of 7.3 ?g/dl (range 1.5-36.5) in 216 children from 6 to 12 years of age, 65 % >=5?g/dl. 48% of the participating homes use cooking lead-glazed pottery, 37% has dirt floor. After prioritization the accomplished interventions were: a participatory management plan according to the potable water flow chart critical point, that allowed to estimate escapes in water supply system of the order of 40 %; workshops to reduce lead effects and visits to children with lead levels >=10 ?g/dl, reducing lead levels from 14.7 to 6.8 ?g/dl in this children; dengue control and good solid waste management integral intervention, reducing from 40% to 6.7% the house index and the Breteau index from 50% to 13.3%; focus groups to evaluate the PAR. Future actions: implementing the participatory water management plan, reduction of lead sources, disposal and treatment of capacitors containing PCBs, CASITAS´s survival plan. Conclusions: The ecosystem approach turns to a greater impact on complex environmental health issues.

Local Community Involvement as a Basis for Sustainable Crocodilian Management in Protected Areas of Central Amazonia: Problem or Solution?

Amazon floodplains have a long history of exploitation of crocodilians, particularly of large species such as the black caiman ( Melanosuchus niger) and spectacled caiman ( Caiman crocodilus). Historically, legal but uncontrolled trade resulted in a drastic reduction of wild populations of both species, which eventually led to the collapse of the commercial trade. In 1967, prohibition of commercial use of wild fauna through changes in Brazilian and international laws allowed caiman populations to slowly recover across much of their original range. Several studies on caiman populations greatly improved knowledge about the species, offering scientific bases for crocodilian management in the wild. Although protective legislation should only be altered using extreme caution, the creation of Sustainable Development Reserves (SDR) at the end of last century made it possible to manage wildlife for commercial purposes, albeit under strict population monitoring regimes. This category of protected area was established to improve welfare of local communities and strengthen their participation in conservation. Along with involvement in caiman monitoring programs, the engagement of local hunters and buyers is essential for participatory management plans. Even with development of SDRs, monitoring of crocodilian populations is still restricted to a few State Reserves, and traditional knowledge of stakeholders has been insufficiently incorporated into management and monitoring activities. We believe that stronger participation of local actors can help to improve the experimental harvesting initiatives that have been carried out thus far by local authorities. Community-based monitoring programs, which reflect local reality, are being developed in a simple and cost-effective way.

Marine Reserve in Chile would benefit penguins and ecotourism

The penguin colony at Puñihuil Islands, southern Chile, is the only known place where hundreds of Magellanic ( Spheniscus magellanicus) and Humboldt ( Spheniscus humboldti) penguins nest together. Current jurisdictional limitations leave the waters around the colony unprotected, and penguins are vulnerable to accidental drowning in gillnets. Ecotourism is an important industry for the small community nearby, but residents are frustrated that there is no mechanism to protect penguins and ecotourism. Designation of a Marine Reserve, with a participatory management plan crossing institutional boundaries, could offer protection to both wildlife and human livelihoods, and serve as a model for protecting natural capital.

Conflict management in protected areas: The Lazar Canyon natural monument, Eastern Serbia

In recent decades, increasing utilisation pressure on forests and emphasis on the need for nature conservation has resulted in numerous conflicts between local communities and the institutions responsible for implementing nature conservation policy in Serbia. One example of these conflicts occurs in the Lazar Canyon natural monument in Eastern Serbia. This contains exceptional floristic and animal diversity as well as landscape diversity and beauty. After presenting the conservation policy in Serbia, the organisational structure of the institutions related to this case study, and the relevant stakeholders, this paper presents an approach to participatory management planning and conservation. It discusses potential solutions to the problem, and the feasibility of applying them. The study is based on a small survey with relevant stakeholders to explore their attitudes towards forests as natural resources and nature conservation policy. Findings suggest that these conflicts could be overcome through the involvement of all stakeholders and jointly agreed activities.

Economic contribution of fuel wood from Dzalanyama forest reserve to rural livelihoods of surrounding communities of Lilongwe district in central Malawi

People living near Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Lilongwe District of Central Malawi collect various forest products throughout the year. This paper quantifies the contribution of fuel wood as a non-timber forest product (NTFP) to income and food security of the households surrounding the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. A sample of 150 migrant exotic fuel wood collectors, migrant indigenous wood collectors and charcoal burners within 25 km radius of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, were randomly selected using twostage cluster sampling method and probability proportion to size (PPS). The results showed that most women sold head-loads as collected and none traveled to town to sell fuel wood. It is clear from the results that the collectors who sold wood to town earned more revenue than collectors who sold wood within the village. The results further show that mode of transport affected the amount of revenue earned from fuel wood sales, with bicycle being more remunerative than head loads. Women used head load and rarely accessed urban markets, which explain their lower earnings than men. Consequently, men's earnings contributed 12% to food security compared with only 5% for women. Thus, although minimal, the incomes realized assisted communities surrounding Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to reduce the impact of shocks and stress of low yields and crop failure. To ensure economic and ecological sustainability of the Forest Reserve, there is a need for participatory management planning, involving all stakeholders. Keywords : Dzalanyama, food security, fuel wood, Malawi, non-timber forest products Eastern Africa Journal of Rural Development Vol. 21 (1) 2005: pp. 44-54

Exploratory co-management interventions in Kuiburi National Park, Central Thailand, including human-elephant conflict mitigation

Co-management is a developing field of protected area management. Increasingly, the practice is to involve local communities and other stakeholders in protected area planning and management. In many countries, management boards, co-management structures and other participatory mechanisms are being created. This paper reports on promoting co-management involving participatory management planning at Kuiburi National Park, Central Thailand, through the establishment of two working groups, namely a core management planning team comprising park personnel (charged with leading plan implementation), operating in parallel with a park management board working group (local people and other stakeholders). These institutional bodies participated in a park management planning process, which was fuelled by socio-economic data focusing on the high profile human-elephant conflict in the buffer zone. The initiative led to a major rethink on participatory management planning by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The process also led to some valuable recommendations for human-elephant conflict mitigation, both at Kuiburi and the international context.