The
African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA) hosted a webinar on “How community
based natural resource management (CBNRM) can deliver Inclusive, fair and
equitable Conservation for People and Nature” on the 12th of March 2021.
The
webinar aimed to help build a consensus position on how CBNRM can deliver on
multiple elements of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) such as
ecosystem-based adaptation and other effective conservation measures (OECMs).
In the run
up to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and in recognition of the
2050 Vision of “Living in harmony with nature”, it is crucial to have an
increased understanding on the linkages and complexities of natural resources
management in rural areas, particularly on sustainable use and how it
contributes to mitigating some of the biodiversity threats.
Simangele
Msweli, senior manager of the youth leadership program at the Africa Wildlife
Foundation (AWF) opened the webinar by stating that, “For conservation efforts
to be successful, they need to serve both the needs of species, seascapes and
landscapes, as well as the needs of the people, especially those that live near
or within the high biodiversity seascapes and landscapes. Community Based
Natural Resource management (CBNRM) is not just about exploiting resources but
about managing them.”
“Namibia
epitomizes all the foundational principles of CBNRM. In Namibia we are talking
of fully devolved rights with the law, giving communities the right to receive
100% of income from hunting and tourism and its management”, said Dr. Shylock
Muyengwa from Resource Africa. Reflecting on CBRNM initiatives in Southern
Africa, Dr Shylock also noted that CBRNM has grown to more than just
communities working on the ground, but also to a movement of communities
advocating for equity at a regional and global level.
David
Obura from CORDIO East Africa touched on marine ecosystems, stating that CBNRM
is not restricted to terrestrial systems but also aquatic systems. He continued
by elaborating CBNRM impacts on coastal and marine fisheries on communities in
East Africa. Some of the impacts that David mentioned were thatCBRNM has led to
improved fishery, tourism income and coral reefs management in Kuruwitu
co-management area, noting that the process of empowerment has built social and
economic assets improving community resilience.
Prof Mamadau Goita from the
Institute for the Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Development
stressed on the need for cohesion between local government and national
policies, reflecting on various case studies from West Africa, he added that
strong governance, capacity building and decentralized management is very
instrumental for CBNRM to succeed.
In his intervention, Jose
Monterio from the Mozambique CBRNM Network, pointed out that for CBRNM to work,
project facilitators need to understand the aspirations of communities before
imposing their ideas. And that there is need to provide necessary tools for
successful implementation of the project.
In her concluding remarks
as moderator of the webinar, Simangele Msweli noted that there was consensus
that CBNRM delivers for both people and nature and that it is effective in both
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. All speakers agree that in order for CBRNM
initiatives to be successful, there need to be an allowing policy environment,
effective local governance structures, training and capacity building of
community members, decentralization of power, collection and management of data
and context specific benefit-sharing mechanisms. It was noted that CBRNM does
have challenges but the benefits outweighs the costs and hence a need to invest
in addressing those challenges.
The recording of the full
webinar can be here.