Community Resource Management Principles

COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

by Anton Antonio

April 27, 2015

“The uplands have all the elements that spell life and survival.  Uplands have communities of people (the single-most important resource) and natural resources (the primary economic development element).  Thrown in a good management plan and a few competent implementing managers and we have the perfect formula for success.” (Antonio, 2015)  “The formulation of a community resource management framework should be guided by the following principles (Antonio, 2015):

1. Participatory and Inclusive Approaches – A community resource management framework should promote broad-based community participation.  The participation of people’s organizations (POs) should be ideal although the concerns of the local government units (LGUs), national agencies and other stakeholders should also be equally heard.
2. Broad Consultation – Representation (therefore, passive presence) in the process will not be enough.  Actual participation in the deliberation should also be practiced as well as the pulling-in of ideas from those who cannot physically be present through consultation.  This is the only way to create a pool of ideas and strategies from all the stakeholders.
3. Multiple Use Forest Management – There are several products that can be utilized in a forest.  However, there has to be a balance between economic needs and environmental concerns.  There should be little or no extraction of timber and wood resources and, if there is a necessity to extract timber or wood resources, this should be kept to the minimum (Antonio, 2015).
4. Resource Sustainability – The emphasis in crafting a community resource management framework should be along the lines of preservation, conservation, improvement and rehabilitation of degraded forest areas.  Resource sustainability has three components --- ecological, economic and social.  If utilization of forest resources is inevitable, this should be to the greater benefit of the stakeholders… primarily the forest communities.
5. Integrated Planning - The framework must be in consonance with larger plans already in operation.  Again, the community resource management framework should be along the lines of development, protection and sustainable utilization of forest resources.
6. Recognition of Indigenous People’s Rights and Practices – The uplands and forest areas is where the poorest of the poor can be found.  It should be noted that indigenous people have traditional and indigenous belief systems that must be respected.  Changing indigenous knowledge may not at all be palatable to forest dwellers.  Complimenting these knowledge, practices and belief systems with modern technology and management practices will have to be calibrated in scales acceptable to them.
7. Gender Parity – The framework should provide and encourage equal opportunities for both men and women to contribute to the effort and share in the benefits.
8. Effective Resource Utilization – Effective resource utilization equates to the 100 percent utilization of the forest resources extracted.  When utilization of community resources becomes necessary, greater concern should be geared towards replacing such resources.  Utilization must be based on sound ecological and economic principles.

Under these principles should a management strategy and plan be crafted… bearing in mind the above-mentioned community resource management principles.

Just my little thoughts…

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REFERENCE:

Antonio, A. C. (2015). “Community Resource Management Priorities”. Retrieved on April 27, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/)