Non-governmental organizations

This briefing discusses the human rights impact of conservation policies and the role of non-governmental and international conservation organizations in protecting human rights while supporting conservation initiatives. The article includes information relating to the Conservation Initiative on Human Rights and a description of the IUCN resolutions and recommendations regarding human rights and conservation.

In the last decade biodiversity loss and persistent poverty in developing countries have been recognised as major international problems that require urgent attention. However, the nature and scale of the links between these two problems, and between efforts to address them, has been the subject of much heated debate. Understanding the different elements of this debate is critical for the move towards constructive solutions.

This publication records the methods, lessons and experiences of organizations involved in CBNRM programmes in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to enable organizations and communities to discover and learn from the implementation experiences of counterparts in neighbouring areas. The focus is on practical approaches, with a brief overview of the national CBNRM programmes and enabling legislation.