IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development), Natural Resources Group

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment emphasises the inter-relationship between ecosystem health and human well-being. Most ecosystems are severely degraded and the services that they provide to society are diminishing. As a result, important targets for biodiversity and development are unlikely to be met. Community conservation processes are often isolated and marginalised from mainstream conservation efforts.

At the heart of co-management of natural resources is a process of collective understanding and action by local communities and other social actors. The process brings about negotiated agreements on management roles, rights, and responsibilities, making explicit the conditions and institutions of sound decentralised governance. De facto, co-management is about sharing power.

Le processus collectif de compréhension et d’action par les communautés locales et d’autres acteurs sociaux se trouve au cœur de la « cogestion » des ressources naturelles. Ce processus aboutit à des accords négociés sur les rôles de gestion, les droits, les responsabilités et rendent explicites les conditions et institutions pour une gouvernance saine et décentralisée. De fait, la cogestion revient à partager le pouvoir.

At the heart of ‘co-management’ of natural resources is a process of collective understanding and action by local communities and other social actors. The process brings about negotiated agreements on management roles, rights, and responsibilities, making explicit the conditions and institutions of sound decentralised governance. De facto, co-management is about sharing power.