How and why can concepts of local participation that are intended to make resource use fairer and more sustainable, create policies of sustainable natural resource management that turn out to be socially, ecologically and ethically unsound? Recent US research published by the International Institute for Environment and Development's Sustainable Agriculture Programme reveals that devolving land and resource use decisions to local communities often excludes mobile stakeholders who come from outside the neighbourhood as seasonal gatherers. Such exclusion can create social discord and lead on to depletion of local natural resources. The study in hand focuses on wild mushroom harvesting in the USA but has global implications, as examples from Africa and India show. Their gist is that the 'local community' concept should not bar 'outsiders' out of hand. Better ways can often be sought to make resource use sustainable and lucrative for one and all.

In recent years local communities have gained a growing political mandate to play a part in forming and policing policies for managing sustainable natural resources. They are finally being seen as the most appropriate managers and decision-makers vis-à-vis natural resources in their own neighbourhoods. But the definition of what a 'local community' means in terms of who holds a fixed (as distinct from an intermittent) stake or interest in local resources may need to be redefined. Certain 'outsiders' who normally play a part in husbanding those resources may be barred from harvesting them if they cannot claim permanent, year-round residency. Such exclusion can harm local communities, economies and ecosystems.

External mobile groups, such as seasonal mushroom pickers, can also play an important role in managing certain kinds of sustainable natural resources, particularly those resources that are variable and unpredictable in productivity and distribution, in this case wild edible mushrooms. It may be a mistake to assume that locals favour land management motivations and strategies that are more sustainable than those pursued by 'outsiders'. The study shows that excluding 'outsiders' may give rise to the very ills (social oppression, flawed land management) that local participation seeks in principle to counter, not least:

• Loss of incentive for uninvolved local community members to pursue sustainable codes of stewardship.
• Loss of the specific knowledge and interest 'outsiders' may attach to maintaining quality of productive sites: they tend to work with the same patches throughout a season, often from year to year.
• Loss of economic potential, where mobility may be necessary for a resource's economic viability. Rapid response by adequate numbers of harvesters is needed to deal with unpredictable harvests and deliver products swiftly to outside buyers.
• Environmental damage by 'outsiders' who force access to preserves that were previously open-access.
• Loss of social and economic links formerly made between 'outsiders' or between locals and 'outsiders'.

Proposed solutions entail:

• inclusion of 'outsiders' in consultations over local planning and local government policy improvements
• ensuring secure rights of access for 'outsiders' as well as for local community members
• creation of forums which allow for participation by 'outsiders' in resource management policymaking
• creation of collaborative stewardship training programmes, including possible use of computer networks to ensure that sufficient harvesters are in the right areas at critical harvesting times
• enlarging definitions of 'community' to embrace mobile 'outsiders' who financially depend upon and help manage key resources.

Source(s):
Community' Definitions in Sustainable Natural Resource Management: The Case of Wild Mushroom Harvesting in the USA. IIED Gatekeeper Series # SA68, R. McLain & E. Jones (1997) Full document.

Funded by: Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA), Sweden 1995-1997

id21 Research Highlight: 1998-July-07

Further Information:
Rebecca McLain and Eric Jones
IIED
3 Endsleigh Street
London
WC1H ODD
UK

Tel: +44 (0)171 388 2117
Fax: +44 (0)171 388 2826
Contact the contributor: sustag@iied.org

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)