A Case Study about Natural Resource Conflict Management
Introduction: Natural resource management is in many ways a form of conflict management. Traditions, customs, rules, laws and policies dealing with issues of access to, and use and management of, natural resources all aim to bring order and predictability to situations where competition and conflicting interests – even in the smallest communities – are present. Such institutions and practices can be termed “proactive” responses seeking to manage the potential for tension and conflict. Although resource management and conflict management are closely linked, only recently have policy-makers, State resource managers, practitioners, academics and others attempted to address the connection.
This recent attention may reflect a growing awareness of the scope, magnitude and implications of natural resource conflicts. Increased competition for natural resources among multiple stakeholders with diverse interests is occurring worldwide within the current trends of globalization, democratization, decentralization and urbanization. Given this new situation, communities often have a greater need and opportunity to participate in sustainable resource management. Along with these new needs and opportunities there are often tensions and conflicts, including disagreement over access rights and lack of consensus on management objectives. Keep reading…
