High stakes: Lessons from stakeholder groups in the biodiversity conservation network

Sango Mahanty, Diane Russell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Research in common property, participatory resource management, and community development points to the central importance of organizational arrangements in conservation and development interventions. The dilemma facing contemporary conservation practitioners is how best to assist and facilitate such arrangements in support of participatory resource management and sustainable livelihoods, given the range of organizations, societal processes, and structures in which interventions might engage. This article presents some key findings from a study of stakeholder groups at 4 project sites, with information from a further 16 sites, in the Biodiversity Conservation Network: (1) Longstanding organizations had an established community niche, but could become bogged down in bureaucratic procedures; (2) poor communication between organizations was common and could undermine resource management; and (3) charismatic individuals and local elite interests could dominate groups, diminishing their representativeness. Based on these findings, the article argues that conservation professionals need to build their capacity as facilitators and negotiators, paying greater attention to how stakeholder groups form and function, their links to wider arenas, and the aims and positions of groups and individuals.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)179-188
    Number of pages10
    JournalSociety and Natural Resources
    Volume15
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

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