Changing roles in natural forest management in the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania

Abstract

Natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in particular have increasingly become significant to both international and national communities within the last two decades. The paramount question is how to develop sustainable management approaches. For decades this question was addressed by many people who thought only in terms of two alternatives: markets or centralised government (Taylor 1997). More recently a third alternative has been offered by others (Baland & Platteau 1996; Poffenberger & McGean 1996) who have argued the role of community in the management of natural resources. Borrini-Feyerabend (1996), Chambers (1994b), Dubois (1997), Korten (1984), Pimbert and Pretty (1997) and Wily (1997 & 1999) have all analysed changes in approaches to natural resource management and biodiversity conservation to differing extents. Dubois (1997) and Wily (1997 & 1999) have specifically analysed the evolution of approaches to forest management in Africa, natural forest management being the specific focus of this research. Dubois (1997) identifies three approaches to forest management utilised in recent decades: • The technocratic approach: management for the forest and against the people; • The participatory approach: forest management for and by the people; and • The emergence of political negotiation: forest management with the people and possibly other actors.

Date of Award	6 Apr 2000
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Phil O'Keefe (Supervisor)