Resources

In 2006 oil was discovered in Uganda. With the country’s economy highly dependent on fuel imports, national oil production could make a long-term contribution to poverty alleviation. But for sustainable development to occur, participatory governance must ensure that people are involved in the decision-making processes affecting their lives. This paper, therefore, first analyses the adequacy of the existing legal framework on access to information and participation. Its findings show that although law and policy in Uganda indicate certain efforts to open up environmental decision-making processes to public influence, this is not the case in the oil production sector. On the basis of interviews and focus group studies it further examines the main practical barriers to better public participation. The author finds that in practice, public participation is subject to several financial, technical and political constraints. The culture of secrecy within government bodies, weak civil society structures as well as the politics of patronage remain substantive challenges for the fair and equitable management of natural resources in Uganda.

The Gamba Protected Areas Complex (GPAC) in Gabon is an Integrated Conservation and Development Project designed to conserve ecosystems in the Guinea-Congo Basin and promote sustainable natural resource development. This article presents a socioeconomic survey undertaken by members of the local community using PRA techniques. The objectives of this survey were to determine the boundaries of terroirs villageois (buffer zones within which sustainable use of natural resources would be permitted), gather qualitative and quantitative information on the life of rural communities living in this area and develop the rapport needed for participatory management. The article outlines some of the PRA tools used aswell as emphasising the need to allow time to build rapport and trust within communities. It highlights the importance of using both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the Gamaba Complex through two examples, firstly, geographic positioning and delimiting of terroirs villageois and secondly, measuring damage caused by elephants to food crops.

Review of nine DFID participatory technology development (PTD) projects. Three thematic areas are considered: farmer participation, participation by other stakeholders and participation within a multidisciplinary team.

This report presents an overview of literature on community approaches to wildlife management. These approaches are analysed in two main groupings: top-down and participatory. The focus is mainly on experiences gained in Africa, with a few illustrative case studies drawn from outside the region. The benefits provided by wildlife management are discussed in terms of use and non-use values. Use values comprise both traditional and non-traditional products harvested for consumptive use, and the various ecological functions provided by species and their habitats; non-use values consist of the value of wildlife as a cultural and heritage asset. It is argued in this report that the costs of wildlife management to different stakeholders vary considerably depending on the approach adopted. The report looks at differences between active and passive participation approaches to involve people in the process of wildlife management, which differ in terms of how involved local people really are in making decisions. Other issues raised include institutional capacity building at the local level, lack of legislation, and inappropriate policy frameworks. In conclusion, the report suggests that community wildlife management is likely to be sustainable ecologically, economically and socially only if wildlife management can be made sufficiently attractive to local people for them to adopt the practice as a long-term livelihood strategy. The Report also offers practical suggestions for project appraisals, project evaluations, and supporting community management of wildlife resources.