This is the output of three practitioners of a community centered approach towards coastal resource management. The action research included review of secondary literature to get an overview of community property rights in CBCRM experiences, case studies on approaches and experience of CBCRM programmes in responding to pre existing and prevailing coastal conditions and property arrangements and finally, the research findings were validated at a workshop. The literature indicates that CPR is strongly grounded on the theories of common property rights and traditional resource management. The case studies point out that the key element in CPR is the community. What appears significant is not so much having a common formula on how to define communities but understanding them, particularly community needs and interests. A common element of all case studies is the strong presence of political factors. Conflict or dispute lies at the core of CPR as indicated by the conflict between communities and business interests, and even among intra-community groups.