Community participation

The Community Conservation Support Fund (CCSF) in Sri Lanka supports innovative, community-based and natural resources management initiatives with the help of small grants. This booklet is an attempt to document achievements from several projects that were supported by grants from the CCFS, with emphasis on lessons that may influence future project work and also policies.

Análisis de las razones del por qué quienes se dedican al desarrollo, no pueden ignorar que muchas poblaciones pobres dependen de los recursos naturales. La publicación presta particular atención al potencial de la conservación para contribuir activamente con el desarrollo sustentable a largo plazo y con la reducción de la pobreza.

The Hima is a traditional system of resource tenure that has been practised for more than 1400 years in the Arabian Peninsula. It is the most widespread and longstanding indigenous/traditional conservation institution in the Middle East, and perhaps on Earth! The Arabic word “hima” literally means “a protected area”. In pre-Islamic times, access to this place was declared forbidden by the individual or group who owned it.

This is a story about how development assistance can conserve biodiversity and improve the lives of rural people. It documents changes in the awareness and capacity of the people of the rugged mountain terrain of Northern Pakistan, and how their enhanced livelihood security has contributed to conservation of biodiversity of the region.