In many developing countries, natural resources have been under state control since the colonial period. The exclusion of communities from natural resource management activities has contributed to the detrimental practices that have resulted in the severe degradation of the natural environment.
In1985, NCBA/CLUSA began training local communities in the management of their natural resources, long before such an approach was widely accepted. While other NRM programs focused on the technical approach to the conservation of resources, NCBA/CLUSA adopted a holistic approach that includes promoting the voice of the local community in the governance of resources and maximizing revenues from sustainable commerce in NRM products to encourage a local stake in effective management.
The presence of strong local institutions is critical to ensuring sustainable NRM systems. Therefore, NCBA/CLUSA focuses on creating and strengthening three types of institutions that are essential to successful NRM outcomes: group businesses (cooperatives), conservation management organizations, and civil society organizations (CSO).
Viable group businesses allow farmers to benefit from economies of scale, improve their household incomes, and gain access to techniques and technologies that mitigate adverse impacts on the environment. NRM committees guide and oversee resource utilization and ensure sustainable production. CSOs provide local people with a voice in the governance of local resources and promote a local stake in revenue generating activities. Together, these three types of organizations act in concert to create a comprehensive system for effective conservation and management.
