THE UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG

will make it much more difficult to reach consensus between actors in the management of the
forest reserve.
At the local level, we note that; the dismal progress in the development institutionalisation of
natural resource conservation policies in the tropical region, especially among the resource
rich countries, has led to variegated opinions between academics and actors in the field of
tropical resource management. The changed dimensions of thinking have led to an
institutional shift. This move represents a new focus away from state-centred policies which
are limited in their effectiveness to mobilise information, efficiently institutional enforcement
and support or sanction resource use behaviour. 711 The current shift is geared to finding
solutions at the localised level in the management of natural resources especially in the realm
of forest resources. 712
These shifts have been highlighted by the various multilateral organisations in the realm of
environment and development such as the IUCN. The shifts also indicate the category
classifications that that is meant to clarify and enhance community participation in institutions
regarding environmental decision-making and natural resource management. Although we
realise that all protected areas must be specifically dedicated to the protection and
maintenance of biological diversity and natural resources, the new shifts as postulated by
IUCN guidelines, recognise a gradual change of human intervention. 713
Within the new guidelines there are several asserted conditions believed necessary for
successful natural resource management by local people. Most of these requirements
recapitulate the centrality of the notion that local communities have the ability to create
institutions to regulate the use of their natural resources. Local institutional arrangements have
been shown to be more effective in providing, inter alia, rules related to access, harvesting,
and management, allowing faster, cheaper and more effective response to conflict, monitoring
and sanctioning methods. 714 Thus, the detailed guidance on respective categories, reflect the
significance of different levels of human intervention in resource use and conservation.
Accordingly, following category 1b of the IUCN guidelines, indicate that successful natural
resource management under a protected area arrangement should be compatible with
indigenous human communities living in low density and in balance with the available
resources. 715 Similarly, category II of the same guidelines indicates that resource management
should take into account the needs of the local people and these should be culturally
compartible. 716 Category III calls for protection of specific natural or natural/cultural feature
which is of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative or
aesthetic qualities or cultural significance. The cardinal objective of this category is to protect
711 Peluso, N. 1993. Coercing Conservation? The Politics of State Resource Control. Global Environmental
Change 3 (2):199-217.
712 IUCN. 1996. World Conservation Congress:Resolutions and Recommendations. Gland:IUCN
713 Ibid.
714 Bromley, D.W et al. 1992. Making the Commons Work: Theory, Practice and Policy. San Francisco, CA: ICS
Press.
715 IUCN. 1994. Guidelines for Protected Area Management Categories. Gland and Cambridge: IUCN
716 Ibid.
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