This book synthesizes results from a 7-year program of applied research on community-based approaches to natural resource management in Asia. The 11 case studies featured illustrate how local innovations in participatory natural resource management can strengthen livelihoods, build capacity for local governance, and spark policy change. The lessons are derived from the application of a participatory action research framework that engaged resource users, local governments, and researchers in collaborative learning. They illustrate practical innovations to strengthen livelihoods through improved collective resource management practices and broader technology choices.
The book provides practitioners with models of “good practice” in participatory, community-based resource management and demonstrates how site-based research contributes to broader learning in the field of natural resource management and policy. In addition to its uses for practitioners, this book will also be a valuable resource for graduate students in development studies and for applied researchers in government or private research organizations interested in development programs and policy analysis.