Farmer-Led Organizations in Natural Resources Management

Overview

The poor in the uplands and mountains of Asia are increasingly becoming the focus of attention in efforts to address resource degradation, insecurity of tenure, cultural isolation, and the marginalization of local communities. Locally adapted resource conserving technologies are prioritized over supply driven approaches of the past. Local people are vested with the responsibility for conserving their environment. Improved systems for securing access and control by marginalized upland people are being sought in order to ensure that the benefits accrue directly to local communities.

Livelihoods in Southeast Asia depend on healthy watersheds

Upland tropical watersheds contribute significantly to the livelihoods of many poorest rural populations in the world; these large and growing populations are farming and harvesting forest products in upper watersheds.

Decision-making is being transferred to local people

The governance of watershed resources in many developing countries is undergoing profound change. Control and decision-making over natural resources is being transferred to local people.

Collective action and modification of property rights are essential to address many of the critical challenges of watershed management, including delegating natural resource management (NRM) to local communities, internalizing environmental externalities, negotiating use rights over resources, and resolving conflicts among stakeholders.

Improved natural resource conditions a major outcome

The establishment and empowerment of local organizations is a necessary first step in effective natural resource management; it is vital to safeguard local control over resources. The major impacts of NRM controlled by local organizations include improved natural resource conditions, improved local welfare impacts and local capacity building.