Challenges and opportunities in community based dryland natural resources management

Abstract

Community based natural resource management is often framed as alternative to top-down development planning. This paper describes the challenges and opportunities of community based natural resource management. The case implemented in a Kenyan dry land region under the Elangata Wuas Ecosystem Management Programme (EWEMP) funded by the Ford Foundation and the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada demonstrates that community-based approaches can be effective ways of addressing some of the key problems facing rural people and especially those in dry lands Results obtained from individual study themes and micro-enterprises. reveal noticeable progression building community governance structures ecotourism consumptive "and non-consumptive use of wildlife," sand harvesting, woodland management non-timber forest products and women in development and, their operatives organs Despite gains, realized, community based""natural, resource "management as a construct is not easy and takes time and resources and relies heavily on community empowerment as a crucial ingredient to success and demands a co-ordinated multi-sectoral approach with negotiation at different levels from the community to government.