The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access

Addison, Jane, Stoeckl, Natalie, Larson, Silva, Jarvis, Diane, Bidan Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, , Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, , Ewamian Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, , Gooniyandi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, , Yanunijarra Ngurrara Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, , and Esparon, Michelle (2019) The ability of community based natural resource management to contribute to development as freedom and the role of access. World Development, 120. pp. 91-104.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Published version) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (571kB) | Preview
View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2019....
 
19
976


Abstract

Ribot's access constraints mediate the generation of development benefits from community based natural resource management and co-management systems and programs. Context-specific access constraints also interact with diverse understandings of what constitutes development to create benefits that are non-linear through time, multi or uni-level, prone to hysteresis, socially mediated, vary through space and experienced quite differently by different social actors. In hybridized State-community gover-nance arrangements, this complexity results in ongoing tensions and entanglements as different social actors seek to leverage available opportunities to overcome or circumvent short or longer-term access constraints in pursuit of their understanding of development. In turn, this complexity makes it difficult to understand the full suite of potential development benefits generated by community based natural resource management or co-management structures. Here, we explore potentially competing conceptu-alisations of development, and the contribution of community based natural resource management to these understandings of development. Using Australia's Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs to inform this exploration, we show that development is primarily conceptualised as 'control, leadership, empowerment and independence,' in line with Sen's development as freedom, by the Indigenous groups involved in these programs. State actors understand development in ways that more closely align with Sen's functionings, or a capability list-for example, the relative uptake of jobs and training. Despite this potential mismatch, some Indigenous groups have been able to leverage opportunities available to them, including those provided by the programs, to overcome access constraints to their understandings of 'freedom'. We conclude by offering suggestions as to how community based natural resource management programs could be improved.

Item ID: 58237
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1873-5991
Keywords: co-management; well-being; capability; empowerment; Indigenous; ranger programs
Copyright Information: © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of a Creative Commons (CC by-NC-ND 4.0) license.
Funders: National Environment Sciences Programme, Northern Australian Hub, James Cook University, CSIRO Land and Water
Projects and Grants: Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub Project 5:3, Knowledge Systems of Indigenous Land and Sea Management Programs (ILSMPs)
Date Deposited: 21 Jul 2019 21:54
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410406 Natural resource management @ 20%
45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4505 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community > 450520 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander political participation and representation @ 40%
44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4407 Policy and administration > 440703 Economic development policy @ 40%
SEO Codes: 91 ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK > 9199 Other Economic Framework > 919999 Economic Framework not elsewhere classified @ 20%
94 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 9401 Community Service (excl. Work) > 940102 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Development and Welfare @ 40%
94 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 9403 International Relations > 940302 International Aid and Development @ 40%
Downloads: Total: 976
Last 12 Months: 102
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page