A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

66 MARINE AND COASTAL
PROTECTED AREAS
there are patterns of resource use or traditions that could form the basis for cost-effective
conservation action through the community to achieve both conservation and
community objectives. If, on the other hand, patterns of resource use are unsustainable
and resource depletion is the result, the communities will be well aware of the
problem and could welcome conservation interventions that bring them measurable
benefits, again achieving both conservation and community objectives.
Community participation has many different interpretations and applications,
ranging from just informing communities to encouraging full partnership in resource
assessments, planning and management. Beaumont (1997) reviews international
perceptions of and approaches to community participation in marine protected area
establishment and management, providing descriptions of these and some specific
examples (Box I-7).
The effectiveness of traditional, or customary conservation at the community
level, has been recognized in studies in Nova Scotia (Canada), Brazil, Palau, the
Solomon Islands, and elsewhere. However, this can be fully successful only where the
communities have exclusive rights to resource areas they customarily use.
For detailed descriptions of participatory methods, principles and tools see
Borrini-Feyerabend (1997a, b), Davis-Case (1989), Davis-Case et al. (1990), Odour-Noah
et al. (1992), Pretty et al. (1995), and World Bank (1996). White et al. (1994) provide
a range of case studies on collaborative and community-based management approaches
for coral reefs.
3.2 Understanding the Community
It is important to understand the structure of communities, and the concerns and
feelings of security of different groups and individuals for effective collaboration. The
participatory rural appraisal, PRA, process is useful in this regard. Participatory
surveys are a good way to identify all stakeholders and learn of their concerns. Some
key considerations are listed below.
– Reorientation of management authority staff is important in enabling them to build
rapport with communities. Training management authority staff in participatory
rural appraisal so that they can conduct socioeconomic studies is a very useful
step in improving relations between them and the community. By learning from
and with villagers, they develop respect for the knowledge of the villagers who will
in turn be encouraged that management authority staff want to listen and learn
from them.
– Participatory socioeconomic and resource assessments at the beginning of site
identification and planning form a good foundation for starting work with a
particular community (Figure I-36). This helps people to clarify the critical issues
and identify their priorities.