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Aceh province is traversed by the Sumatran fault which stretches for 1900 km from the southern tip of Sumatra Island to the Andaman Sea. Seismic activity along this active fault line poses a serious threat to Aceh including in Pidie Jaya Regency. This community assistanc formulated a program called Desa Tangguh Bencana (DESTANA) to optimize the active role of the community by evaluating Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The target was rural communities with diverse educational and economic backgrounds. The activity was carried out by: providing information on disaster awareness, providing assistance to village governments to formulate village regulations based on disaster risk agreements, and map making and installation of information boards for evacuation routes and path planning by considering local values ​​in the village. The program resulted in the formation of a disaster risk team and a community group who were alert to ongoing disasters, as well as an increase the community’s knowledge.

This study aims to find out the present environmental status and issues that have emerged in the recent time due to change in human activities, resource extraction and human dependency on the forest. This study is based on both qualitative and quantitative approach with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and random sampling of 260 respondents, six focus group discussions (FGDs), six key informants interviews (KIIs). The result suggests that about 90% of poor and middle-classhouseholds are depended on the income from tourism, agriculture or boat riding activities. Both the local people and tourists’activities are responsible for decreasing environmental condition by plastic pollution, land cover and land use change, water follows control, road and building construction and violence of rules and regulation. The south and east boundaries, and the center of the forest are mainly facing land use and land cover changes between the years of 2005 to 2018. For sustainable management, local communities should be aware of the importance of swamp forest and have to find out alternative income sources to reduce pressure on swamp forest in terms of resources extraction and forest degradation. J. bio-sci. 28: 51-57, 2020

In recent years, shoreline determination has become an issue of increasing importance and concern, especially at the local level, as sea level continues to rise. This study identifies the rates of absolute and net erosion, accretion, and shoreline stabilization along the coast of Kuakata, a vulnerable coastal region in south-central Bangladesh. Shoreline change was detected by applying remote sensing and geographic information system (RS-GIS)-based techniques by using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) satellite images at 30-m resolution from 1989, 2003, 2010, and 2020. The band combination (BC) method was used to extract the shoreline (i.e., land-water boundary) due to its improved accuracy over other methods for matching with the existing shoreline position. This study also used participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools which revealed the societal impacts caused by the shoreline changes. Coupling RS-GIS and PRA techniques provides an enhanced understanding of shoreline change and its impacts because PRA enriches the RS-GIS outcomes by contextualizing the findings. Results show that from 1989 to 2020, a total of 13.59 km2 of coastal land was eroded, and 3.27 km2 of land was accreted, suggesting that land is retreating at about 0.32 km2 yr–1. Results from the PRA tools support this finding and demonstrate that fisheries and tourism are affected by the shoreline change. These results are important in Kuakata, a major tourist spot in Bangladesh, because of the impacts on fisheries, recreation, resource extraction, land use planning, and coastal risk management.

Within decade of 1994 until 2010, Mt. Merapi erupted, which occurred in 1994, 2006, and 2010. In 1994, the hot cloud of Mt. Merapi went to northernwest area, precisely to Boyong River. Then, in 2006, the threat changed the direction, to the southern part, precisely to Gendol River. Then, it escalated quickly in 2010, in which the hot cloud went 15 kilometers along with Gendol River. By examining the directional change of threat, the risk perception and adaptation strategy within community can be influenced. This research aimed to assess the perception, character change of Mt. Merapi and adaptation strategy to build resiliency in community and change in terms of disaster awareness. Participative data collection was utilised in this research, with qualitative method also used, by involving residents of Turgo hamlet within disaster-prone area III of Mt. Merapi as data resource. Primary data collection was assessed through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) or participative rural condition assessment. The instruments were: interview, tendency and change, diversion, village history, mobility map, and Focused-Group Discussion. The results were descriptive- qualitatively analysed. The research was located in Turgo hamlet, Purwobinangun village, Sub-district of Pakem. The results were that the residents of Turgo understood the model of risk perception, in form of directional change of threat and its character of Mt. Merapi eruption. The residents’ resiliency can be seen through their ability in implementing the strategy of adaptation while also analysing and assessing to build community resilience.

The forest area in Pidie District was decreased by illegal logging, forest conversion, mining and road construction without regard to environmental aspects.This study aims to (1) knewabout local wisdom in Qanun Mukim Lutueng about forest management (2) knew the potential development of community forest in Mukim Lutueng (3) analyzed the community perceptions and behaviours about forest conservation. This study was conducted on 1 October 2015 to 30 April 2016in Mukim Lutueng, Pidie District, Aceh Province. The research method is ethnography with Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The result shown thatLocal wisdom in forest management consist of the law in forest activities management, suggestion and prohibition, and local community of forest management. The potential development of community forest support by civil society organizations (NGOs) with community empowerment and government community institution. Perceptions and behaviours towards qanun implementation and community forest in Mukim Lutueng was strong perceptions and with strong attitudes especially shown by community people in three villages; Mane, Lutueng and Blang Dalam. Meanwhile, the communitypeople of Turue Cut showed the weak level of perceptions and attitudes towards the qanun implementation and community forest in Mukim Lutueng. The community law (qanun) threatened by illegal gold mining activities and illegal logging. Community people need an alternative economythat does not rely on the resources of the forest.

In response to attempts to establish unsustainable projects (fracking and hydroelectric plants) in an indigenous community in the Mexican humid tropics, this study aims to empower its citizenry using knowledge about the local biophysical and social environment and its associated problems, raising awareness of how to help solve these problems, and actively working towards their solution. Action Research and Community Problem-Solving was used to design a participatory rural appraisal workshop to analyze the situation from a cultural, biological and legal perspective in order to promote sustainable development on a human scale. The results of this research show that the Totonac community in the municipality of Huehuetla has deep knowledge about their environment and a close relationship with the land and the natural world. Despite this biological and cultural wealth, there are problems with disturbance and marginalization in the region, with a big part of the problem being a lack of autonomy in the community's management of its own resources. The final outcome of the workshops was a community action plan that managed to stop the implementation of development projects that threatened the native culture and its biocultural heritage. The educational model proposed proved to be useful in empowering the citizenry to confront the development of unsustainable projects. It also provided insight as to the formation of a new social base in which coexistence between indigenous and non-indigenous people is possible.

In spite of their economic and ecological significance, mangroves in most coastal communities, including Ramsar sites in Ghana have witnessed unprecedented exploitation, leading to degradation of the ecosystem. In the face of this degradation, several restoration and conservation interventions have been implemented by both government and civil society organizations in collaboration with the communities. However, these efforts directed at mangrove conservation and restoration in the Songor and Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar sites have largely failed to improve the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves, because key issues relating to access, ownership regimes and land tenure are often overlooked. The study therefore focused exclusively on exploring these governance issues and how they influence the sustainable conservation and utilization of mangroves in the two Ramsar sites. Eleven communities from the Sangor Ramsar site and the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar site were involved in the study. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions and direct observations, as well as questionnaires were employed in generating data on ownership regimes and how they influence the management and conservation of mangroves. The results showed that the existing ownership regime of mangrove resources has a direct bearing on the effectiveness of mangrove conservation and utilization. While mangroves under individual ownership dominated at Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar site, family owned mangroves dominated the Songor Ramsar site. Most of the existing mangrove ownership regimes (community, clan or family lands) in the area allow access to the people to exploit mangrove resources indiscriminately without restrictions/regulations which results in over exploitation and degradation. Given the weakness of effective governance regimes and inadequacy of a formal legal framework governing mangroves in the Ramsar sites, a collaborative effort between the Forestry Commission and the communities or individually owned mangrove areas that “formalizes” mangrove management present the best opportunity to regulate access and exploitation of the mangroves at the Songor and Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar sites, by providing legal backing to the community governance arrangements for sustainable conservation and restoration efforts.

This study aims at identifying and evaluating the distinct social perspectives of stakeholders regarding the agro-ecosystem services (AESs) at different scales in Kyrenia Region of Northern Cyprus. To do so, the major objectives of the study were (i) to elicit the shared stakeholders' perspectives of AESs and (ii) to record the agro-ecosystem plant biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge as a provider of AESs. The method of the study consisted of several parts: to design a conceptual framework for the assessment of AESs; to identify the typology of AESs, and to employ qualitative (Participatory Rural Appraisal e.g. focus groups and field surveys) and quantitative (Q-Methodology) research methods to collect and evaluate the relevant data. The first stage of the Q-methodology was to conduct 8 focus groups and field surveys (n: 80), which helped to collect the qualitative data on the agro-ecosystem plant biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. Subsequently, the Q-method was applied to collect the quantitative data on the stakeholders’ perspectives of AESs. The Q-participants ranked a total of 48 Q-statements into a forced quasi-normal distribution in 11 categories (from +5 to −5). The relevant data were analysed by performing the Q-factor analysis. The results revealed that the stakeholders hold three prominent social perspectives (utilitarian, bequest-science, and heritage-existence), which display the landscape social values of AESs. The relevant assessment showed that the agro-ecosystems are mostly valued for their cultural services delivered. Assessment of the qualitative data elicited that the stakeholders collect 21 wild edible plants and 2 mushroom species for several purposes (e.g. food and income generation) from the natural areas located within and around agro-ecosystems. The relevant traditional knowledge demonstrates the natural resource social values of AESs. Consequently, the landscape and natural social values of AESs are important cultural values and also guiding principles for the sustainable conservation and management of agro-biodiversity, agricultural landscapes, and agro-ecosystems in Kyrenia Region and elsewhere.

Purpose The recently released fifth IPCC report indicates a high agreement among global actors on the need to integrate climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). However, there remains little local level evidence on how DRR and CCA could be linked, the sorts of adjustments that are required for the two concepts to be integrated and the challenges ahead. This paper aims to provide an empirical insight on the possible links and departures between DRR and CCA. Design/methodology/approach The study used a qualitative case study approach to excavate lessons from an existing DRR intervention for CCA using a local-level adaptive capacity assessment framework as a normative criteria. Data was collected both from primary and secondary sources. The primary data collection involved the use of participatory rural appraisal techniques with village communities in Chifra District, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia. Findings The findings showed that the DRR interventions studied addressed parts of the elements of adaptive capacity at the local level. The findings also showed the limitation of the DRR intervention, which could be attributed to both the nature of the DRR interventions in general and implementation problems of the case study intervention in particular. The limitations show cases where full integration of DRR with CCA could be challenging. Originality/value The paper argues why the two approaches may not be integrated fully and also shows the need to focus on the design of DRR interventions in achieving both short-term (reducing disaster risks) and long-term objectives (enhancing adaptive capacity).

Peatland swamp forests (PSF) deliver a range of beneficial, but often undervalued ecosystem services. In this paper we examined local peoples’ appreciation on the values of PSF and their contribution to conservation. The study was carried out by interviewing 100 respondents living in adjacent to North Selangor PSF and holding three focus group discussions and a few key-informants’ interviews following participatory rural appraisal and contingent valuation methods. Respondents appreciated PSF for direct values including timber, non-timber forest products, source of fish, and water for agriculture. They reported environmental values of PSF like flood prevention, biodiversity conservation, fresh air, soil fertility, perennial water source, and reduction of storm damages. They also reported several health and cultural benefits including sources of medicinal plants, fresh food, and agro-tourism. The monetary values of some benefits were estimated as USD 128/month/family (for fish), USD 128/month/family (agro-tourism) and USD 159,070/year (irrigation). Although direct benefits from PSF were minimal, respondents sincerely wanted to contribute to PSF conservation through participation in community-based rehabilitation project, patrolling and fire protection, tree planting, cash donation, supplying seedlings, and joining in awareness creation programme. The intrinsic values and peoples’ enthusiasm for PSF conservation suggest a community-based approach for sustainable PSF management.

Neonatal lamb mortality constitutes a significant economic cost and is an important welfare challenge. Despite compelling evidence for reduction strategies and cost benefits associated with them, there has been no documented reduction in mortality since the 1970’s. We aimed to evaluate whether a knowledge exchange solution could be used to define farm specific loss risks accurately. This was done by training farmers how to examine neonatal lambs post-mortem to record and interpret common causes of mortality by following a basic framework. We used participatory rural appraisal to assess some of the existing challenges to reducing lamb mortality. When considering outcomes for specific post mortem questions, there was 87.5% agreement between veterinary and farmer answers and 82.3% of farmer diagnoses (n = 96) agreed with the veterinary conclusions. When merged with farmer performed post-mortems, farm specific mortality pie-charts were developed to highlight the variation between flocks and the necessity for flock specific advice. Common challenges to reducing lamb loss included level of labour, skill set of labour, communication within teams and whether farmers generally considered post-mortems to be a valuable tool. We consider that farmer post-mortems of lambs could be a tool for the veterinary-farmer team, facilitating the communication of farm specific advice and empowering farmers to effect positive change.

Plant viruses are major constraints to crop production worldwide, causing US$60 billion losses annually. This study assessed various agricultural sector stakeholders’ knowledge and perceptions of plant viruses in Zimbabwe. Data was collected from six provinces using surveys and participatory rural appraisal methodologies between December 2013 and October 2014. Maize streak virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus, Tomato mosaic virus and Groundnut rosette virus were ranked as the country’s five most important plant viruses by agricultural technical staff. Most (72%) technical staff rated Maize streak virus as the most important plant virus in Zimbabwe. Over 30% of farmers were self-taught to identify diseases, while only 15.3% were trained by agricultural extension staff. Most (95.8%) technical staff trained people in disease identification through running short courses, use of demonstration plots and field days. The majority (41.9%) of farmers recommended the use of radio/TV/newspaper broadcasts to improve virus awareness. Only 23.7% of farmers and 41.6% of technical staff had heard about TSWV/tospoviruses. While most (97.2%) technical staff rated TSWV/tospoviruses as “fairly important” to “very important” plant pathogens, only 15.7% were able to correctly identify tospoviral vectors. The study showed that there is poor knowledge of plant viruses the stakeholders in the agricultural sector. There is need to train the technical staff in plant virology so that they can disseminate their knowledge to farmers for improved virus disease management. Key words: Awareness, disease identification, tospoviruses, training.

In Egypt, a shortage in irrigation water is a serious issue, because increases in water demands and water conflicts have become social problems. The Egyptian government attempts to solve these problems by strengthening Water Users’ Organizations (WUOs), especially the Branch Canal Water Users’ Association (BCWUA), where the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) policy was introduced. Targeting this policy, we tried strengthening the BCWUA by providing a four-step training program: problem analysis, capacity development, action plan creation and action plan incorporation for problem solutions. As a series of activities, strengthening of BCWUA was succeeded with elimination of excess water intake and reduces the number of water conflicts. For introducing PIM, transparency in operation, discloser of information and failures in canal facilities have become the main obstacles. Joint repair work by the government and WUOs can effectively overcome the failures.

Approaches that aim to identify and prioritize locally appropriate climate smart agriculture (CSA) technologies will need to address the context-specific multi-dimensional complexity in agricultural systems. The climate smart agriculture rapid appraisal (CSA-RA) is a mixed method approach that draws on participatory bottom-up, qualitative, and quantitative tools to assess the heterogeneity of local contexts, and prioritize context-specific CSA options. This is an imperative if countries are to respond to the COP21 agreement and meet their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). The CSA-RA is designed to assess biophysical including climatic, socio-cultural, economic and technological characteristics at the household, farm and community/regional level. The CSA-RA employs gender-disaggregated methods, including gender differences in perceptions of climate change and its impacts. The CSA-RA combines common participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and rapid rural appraisal (RRA) tools into one methodology, that disaggregates the gender dimension, and includes resource mapping; climate calendars; historical calendars; cropping calendars; organization mapping; transect walks; key informant interviews; farmer interviews; and pairwise ranking matrix. The tool collects qualitative and quantitative data from various stakeholders (farmers, local leaders, researchers, local-level agricultural experts, private sector actors, donor organizations, and policy implementers), allowing expansive analysis, triangulation and validation. Application of the CSA-RA in Tanzania and Uganda reveals heterogeneity across the sites in terms of vulnerability, constraints and CSA priorities among different social groups (gender) and agro-ecological zones. Thus, the CSA-RA allows stakeholders to simultaneously take into account biophysical and socio-economic aspects to target and implement CSA.

The present study revealed how local socioecological knowledge elucidated during participatory rural appraisals and historical remote sensing data can be combined for analyzing land use change patterns from 1954 to 2007 in northwestern Vietnam. The developed approach integrated farmer decision rules on cropping preferences and location, visual and supervised classification methods, and qualitative information obtained during various forms of participatory appraisals. The integration of historical remote sensing data (aerial photo, Landsat, LISS III) with farmer decision rules showed the feasibility of the proposed method to explain crop distribution patterns for the assessment period of 53 years. Our approach is beneficial for data-limited environments, which is a prevalent situation for many developing regions. The derived land use and crop type dataset was used for understanding how anthropogenic activities altered the study area of the Chieng Khoi commune during the assessment period of five decades, and what potential impact this can have on the natural resource base. The newly developed approach offers a methodological pathway that can be easily transferred to local government authorities for a better understanding of cropping transitions and agricultural expansion trends in data-limited rural landscapes. The detected land use change patterns and upland cropping expansion of more than two hundred percent in 53 years not only revealed the consequences of the interactions and feedback between farmers and their land, but further highlighted the urgent need for implementing sustainable land management practices in the case study watershed of the Chieng Khoi commune and northwestern Vietnam in general.

The ever-increasing interest in mining of sand in shallow waters of many rural rivers on the one hand and the growing concern for the environment on the other underscore the need to develop better management policies that govern sand extraction. Although literature pointing to increased environmental consciousness by some mining operations exists, the link between environmental concerns and sand mining has however remained a controversial matter and an under-researched area in South Africa. Consequently, decisions relating to what actions should or should not be taken to limit environmental concerns associated with sand mining operations in South Africa are not known. This analysis sought to explore regulatory and policy implications of sand mining operations along a sample of sites of Njelele River in South Africa. Data were gathered through observation, household questionnaire survey and a series of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises conducted with selected community members and sand miners. We used a combination of K -means clustering and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) to determine the major environmental attributes explaining the state of affairs in sand mining. Regulatory and policy implications were developed using a combination of Gap analysis; Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis; and the development of a Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths (TOWS) matrix strategy. Our analysis identified a series of morphological, ecological, socio-ecological, governance and physical factors that were major areas of concern in three distinct clusters of sand mining sites. We concluded by discussing a number of regulatory and policy implications of sand mining at three scales, namely strategic, institutional and operational scales.

The chapter briefs on the general concepts that are involved in forest carbon projects, such as afforestation/reforestation (A/R), project boundary, and forest carbon pool. It elaborates on the development process of CDM forest carbon projects and China’s GHGs voluntary emission reduction project, respectively; compare cooperative development and independent development as two development modes. Using project design document (PDD) of CDM A/R projects as an example, it describes in detail 10 major steps in the development of forest carbon project, including project identification, project boundary determination, crediting period selection, baseline investigation, baseline scenario recognition and additionality demonstration, leakage, participatory rural appraisal, environment impact assessment, biodiversity survey, and A/R operation and design.

Food security remains a major challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. The widely acknowledged definition of food security and its four dimensions, availability, access, utilisation and stability, are somewhat abstract in the local context of small-scale farmers. Therefore, more site-specific information on the local food situation is needed to respond to the local food security challenges. Participatory elaboration of these criteria within the rural communities is crucial. The objective of this research was to elaborate community-based criteria in four selected study villages of Tanzania. We present an adapted methodological procedure based on the so-called Framework for Participatory Impact Assessment (FoPIA). Based on a series of farmer workshops, we analysed the local understanding of food security and derived a set of food security criteria. We found that these criteria cover the three dimensions of sustainability (social, economic and environmental), while simultaneously representing the four food security dimensions, showing that rural communities think holistically and consider multiple criteria and dimensions related to food security. Our participatory methodological approach was suitable for identifying the specific development priorities that need to be addressed for improved food security in a particular locality. The locally specific food security criteria can be used for impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation and, finally, for the adaptation of development measures to local contexts.

The paper presents empirical findings on the frameworks and guidelines for participatory mapping aided by Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. It reflects the empirical benefits and challenges towards the participatory mapping, frameworks and guidelines in Land Use Planning (LUP) and the aid of GIS technology towards sustainable LUP in Namibia. The research applied a combination of approaches that include literature review, consultative meetings, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Both positive and negative impacts of the frameworks and guidelines were gathered and the results were verified to suit the participatory mapping aided by GIS technology. The research established that although frameworks and guidelines for participatory mapping aided by GIS are more favourable around the world, a comprehensive understanding is required to be applied in LUP. Although the frameworks and guidelines provide steps on how to be applied in a participatory setting, there is a need for understanding of the areas of applications and cartographical knowledge. Key recommendations include proper use of frameworks and guidelines for participatory mapping and incorporation of GIS technology in LUP.

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The development of eco-trekking on the Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea has used a community-based planning approach, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), in developing community-based tourism (CBT). This approach involves local communities within the sustainable tourism planning process and honours and incorporates their knowledge and opinions. This paper examines the development and outcomes of CBT over a 10-year period since 2004. The findings suggest that stakeholder collaboration through the use of PRA and CBT can foster a sound capacity-building mechanism through the structures it creates as it provides a bottom-up approach which is enabling and meets the objectives of the stakeholders, particularly the communities that are engaged in the process. A key outcome of this process is a sustainable eco-trekking industry driven by the community, but working in partnership with tour operators and philanthropic giving. The paper also demonstrates the complexities, consequences and inevitable compromises in any outcome-based community approach which seeks to empower diverse stakeholder groups, and especially complex – and important – when working with indigenous peoples. The value of an effective, informed and relevant legal framework is noted, as is the need for the tapping into tour operators’ experience as well as community experience.

Climate change (CC) is likely to have negative impacts in many regions of Southeast Asia including Vietnam. Increased understanding of Vulnerability Assessment (VA) methods and their applications are gaining much more interest. However, there is a shortage of practical CC risk and VA tools and techniques in the context of urbanization particularly for Water and Wastewater (W&WW) infrastructure management. In addition, W&WW infrastructure management is a complex issue with a limited knowledge of how to incorporate CC issues into local plans, thus bringing more difficulties in developing good adaptation measures and strategies. Therefore this paper describes results and experiences of applying various assessment tools and techniques for assessment of CC vulnerabilities of urban W&WW infrastructure management. Improved understanding of CC risk assessment in Dong Nai river basin, Vietnam is presented. Our research findings provide an adaptive supportive platform for conducting VA for urban W&WW infrastructure at the local level through an integrated assessment approach, through applying selected assessment tools and techniques, including Bayesian Networks, Multiple Criteria Analysis, Impact Matrix, Problem Tree Analysis and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). This work presents an integrated approach of applying a suite of tools and techniques for facilitating implementation of Climate Chang Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) at the local level. Importantly, PRA is a critical technique that provides input data for other tools and techniques used in the assessment process, especially for investigating local vulnerabilities and adaptation measures. Further studies are recommended to develop appropriate assessment tools which would support the application of CCVA process at the community level.

The province of East Kalimantan has significant peatlands. Covering an area of 700,000 HA, spread across Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kutai Regency and West Kutai Regency. This valuable asset must be empowered to be efficient for the life of the surrounding ecosystem. Swamp and freshwater fish habitat that is around peatlands is a natural potential that has historically been of economic value, which is a condition to be developed on the basis of an empowerment model. The people who live around the swamp and peat have traditionally made swamps and fish their main livelihoods. It is appropriate that the empowerment of peat ecosystems is one of the targets and strategic development agenda, with the support of recommendations from the results of scientific and professional studies. Analysis of the study that began in the period April - November 2016 on the program of recovery and development of peat ecosystems, is one of the innovations to control the damage to peat ecosystems in order to provide solutions and new hopes for peat ecosystem recovery with the target of achieving sustainable prosperity. In 2019 the results of the analysis of this study have been verified and considered as a periodic monitoring and evaluation tool.Analysis of the study was conducted in a participatory manner with the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) principle. A number of analytical tools used by the process of finding data include the formation of a Peat Ecosystem Recovery and Control Work Team (TK-PPEG), preparation of a peat ecosystem-based social map, transect walk, and preparation of program options which are then packaged in the form of a Community Work Plan (RKM). The recommended forms of strategic programs include stabilizing water status on peatlands by building canal blocking and developing agricultural demonstration plots or fish cultivation.The method of collecting data and information is done through observation, interviews and focused discussion or what is commonly called a focus group discussion (FGD). The data generated from the PRA tool is then analyzed descriptively to illustrate the strategies and programs that are the solution in the efforts to restore and control the peat ecosystem. A critical note is that the management of the peatland hydrological area for agricultural and fishery commodities, must pay attention to their suitability for their utilization and use space. Another aspect is the optimization of community participation in each stage.

This paper examines the use and usefulness of inventory-based management planning to practical forest management in processes of community forestry in Nepal. The paper is based on case studies in four Community-Forestry User Groups (CFUG) in the mid-Hills of Nepal and draws upon semi-structured interviews, participatory rural appraisal exercises and analyses of aerial photographs. First, we find that the operational plans supposed to guide community-level management are based on sub-standard forest inventories, which limits their potential role in practical forest management. Second, we find that community-level managers do not rely on the operational plans in their practical forest management. Finally, we find that community-level forest managers in these four cases have managed to conserve their community forests over time and appear knowledgeable about the developments in the condition of their forests in the sense that their impressions of past and current forest condition are mirrored in what we can observe from analysis of change in forest condition based on aerial photographs. Based on these results we question the usefulness of inventory-based management planning in the context of community forestry.

The vulnerability of communities in the Himalayas to water stress caused by climate change depends on changes in the availability of water as well as how it is used. There has been little work done to reconcile these drivers of water stress in the Himalayas. This paper evaluates how climate change may affect water availability in two Nepalese mountain communities, Panglin and Tallo Lorpa, and assesses whether these changes drive vulnerability to water stress. First, estimates of hydrological change are made based on climate model output and hydroclimatological theory. Household surveys, focus group discussions and participatory rural appraisal techniques are used to assess vulnerability and adaptive capacity in each community. Finally, the expected effects of climate change on water availability are linked to findings on the communities’ vulnerability to these changes. The results show that both communities are vulnerable to changes in water availability under climate change, but this vulnerability is sma...

The study was designed to explore the status of fishers’ access to the common property waterbodies (CPW) and associated problems of using CPW. Three upazillas (administrative units) of the Northern region of Bangladesh were selected for the empirical study. Data were collected from fishers, non-fishers and other stakeholders through structured interview schedules, physical observation, and participatory rural appraisal (PRA). The access of poor fishers group to the CPW was very limited in the study area. The government policy of revenue collection through leasing system badly affected the fishers group as they do not have required level of capital, unity, leadership and education. A revenue oriented fisheries management system with short lease periods was found to encourage over-fishing and destructive fishing by lessees, where the lessees were noted to sweep away all the fish stock as soon as their contract ended without considering the sustainable use of resource and biodiversity. Consequently, the productivity of the CPW is declining gradually. To ensure the effective access of fishers’ group to CPW and their sustainable use, an advised long-term community based management (CBM) plan needs to be developed with the effective participation of the fishers’ groups and other stakeholders.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.2(1): 125-133, April 2015

Uganda is a low-income country with the largest pig population in East Africa. Pig keeping has a large potential, commercially and as a tool for poverty reduction, but African swine fever (ASF) is a major hurdle for development of the sector. The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices related to ASF in the smallholder pig production value chain in northern Uganda. The study included three separate series of participatory rural appraisals (PRA), comprising purposively selected farmers and other actors in the pig production value chain. In the PRAs, various participatory epidemiology tools were used. A total of 49 PRAs and 574 participants, representing 64 different villages, were included. The results indicate that participants were well aware of the clinical signs of ASF, routes for disease spread and measures for disease control. However, awareness of the control measures did not guarantee their implementation. A majority of middlemen and butchers acknowledged having sold live pigs, carcasses or pork they believed infected with ASF. Outbreaks of ASF had a strong negative impact on participants' socio-economic status with loss of revenue and reversal into more severe poverty. In conclusion, lack of knowledge is not what is driving the continuous circulation of ASF virus in this setting. To control ASF and reduce its impact, initiatives that stimulate changes in management are needed. Because the behaviour of all actors in the value chain is largely influenced by the deep rural poverty in the region, this needs to be combined with efforts to reduce rural poverty.

An appropriate evaluation methodology is critical in collecting valid data in complex development intervention contexts. This paper explores this issue by putting forward an appropriate evaluation methodology for development interventions in rural China. It draws on the experience of an impact evaluation of a sustainable agricultural biodiversity management project conducted in Hainan, China in 2010. The authors propose that evaluation be culturally responsive and the evaluation design be rooted in the particular cultural context where an evaluation is conducted. The appropriate use of the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach and methods helps generate data that are relevant and meaningful for evaluation purposes in rural China.

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD )are qualitative research techniques and important ways of understanding local perspectives (indigenous Knowledge) on different issues. The techniques involved the communities in the process of identifying problems and in devising ways for minimizing or solving the identified constraints on development. The techniques facilitate the use of IK of the community by relying on norms, values and belief system of communities to select data and other information relevant in guiding development process. It is argued that development solutions from outside are not always based on correct assumption and are sometimes economically unfeasible or culturally acceptable, conventional approaches to development have not achieve the desired result due to exclusion communities from the process of development initiative. It is suggested that PRA and FGD specifically and qualitative research generally, can be used to complement quantitative research or other methods in generating useful data and other relevant information for development initiatives

This study tried to understand the mountainous households’ perception of climate change and its impacts on food security in the Lamjung district of Nepal. The study attempted to find out changes in households food security and daily activities in the face of climate change for the last twenty years. The study started with the 150 household surveys along with participatory rural appraisal to understand the climate change perception of local people and its impact on dimensions of food security. Households expressed different levels of perception in terms of climate change on food security. The result shows that most of the mountainous households experienced increased temperature, less rainfall in winter, an increasing number of natural disasters and the emergence of insects for the last twenty years. They perceived the role of climate change in decreased crop production, decreased dairy products and increased household work. The situation of food security is likely to be more vulnerable to climate change in the future. It was also observed that households have been using different autonomous adaptation measures, such as high yielding crop varieties, enhanced irrigation systems and fertilizers, to cope with the changing climate. Finally, the study recommended policy instruments to enhance food security in the mountainous region amidst changing climate.

Community-based conservation (CBC) has re-emerged as an alternative to the failures of state-controlled conservation. Participation of local communities and traditional knowledge are central to the CBC concept. Although various participatory approaches have been used, few studies have reviewed the effectiveness of these approaches, particularly in achieving both conservation and livelihoods objectives. This paper analyses our own cumulative experience with participatory approaches in order to help improve general practice. We specifically report and analyse the merits and limitations of two approaches that we used in Indonesia: problem-solving (PS) and appreciative inquiry (AI). While CBC is rooted in local communities' knowledge and practices, most rural people in Indonesia lack confidence in their own potential, and are worried about being labelled ‘old fashioned' if they maintain their traditions. Problems in managing natural resources should indeed be understood both by external actors and local stakeholders. However, using problems as the primary basis for formulating actions (the PS approach) exacerbated the tendency of communities to be highly dependent on external assistance and led to poor and slow progress. On the contrary, AI proved to be a powerful way to build the self-confidence and self-reliance of rural people, stimulated creative and innovative strategies, motivated active rather than simply nominal participation and helped sustain participatory and efficient processes.

When large carnivores cause socioeconomic losses in a community, conflict increases, retaliatory killing of the carnivore can occur, and conservation efforts are undermined. We focused on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and economic compensation schemes as approaches for managing conflict. PRA is a tool for collecting data on the large carnivore–human conflict and economic compensation schemes for those affected negatively by carnivore presence. We reviewed published papers and reports on large carnivore–human conflicts, PRA, and compensation schemes. This article details insights into common pitfalls, key lessons learned, possible solutions including new approaches for compensation and protocols to be followed while managing large carnivore–human conflict. We hope to contribute to a meaningful dialogue between locals, managers, and researchers and help in effective implementation of conservation programs to mitigate large carnivore–human conflict around the protected areas.

Community perception of forest–water relationship was gathered using participatory rural appraisal tools in four watersheds of the Blue Nile River Basin in Ethiopia. These were compared and contrasted with the observational records of forest cover and water flow. Upstream and downstream communities were assessed separately to check for differences in perception based on location within a watershed. The key result of the study was that people in the study watersheds had a range of perceptions about the forest–water relationship which were watershed specific. The perceptions were generally consistent with observational evidence from the same watersheds. This study highlighted the need for locale-specific approaches to land and water management in the Basin, as well as the potential value of using community perceptions to complement the observational records which can have spatial and temporal limitations.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to give policy makers, professionals and researchers in Sultanate of Oman and in the region an understanding of the impacts of climate change (CC) related to agriculture and offer farming communities a basis for developing adaptation strategies. It is important to clearly understand and realize what is happening at the community level, because farming communities are the most climate vulnerable groups in this region. The information generated from this study is expected to be used by stakeholders, particularly the Omani Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, to address issues related to CC and its variability in areas of similar agro-climatic conditions. Design/methodology/approach – Primary data from the study site were collected through structured interview, interviews with community leaders, and field observation. The participatory rural appraisal method was applied to gather information on perception and awareness of CC, vulnerability, adaptation measures of local farmers and communities to minimize such impacts. The focused group discussions approach was used to understand the attitudes, perceptions and existing practices. Findings – The analysis of primary data and the perception of the local people indicated that a shift in the sowing period has occurred from July to the end of September. This shift appears to be in response to the shortening of rainfall period and increased frequency of drought. A combination of adaptation strategies are in place, such as proper timing of agricultural operations and crop diversification, changing planting dates, the use of crop varieties, the use of increased water and soil conservation measures and diversifying from farm to non-farm activities. Originality/value – This paper provides valuable inputs for policy makers, managers at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, researchers and other stakeholders on issues related to CC impacts on agriculture and its management through appropriate adaptation strategies in Oman and the region.

A study was conducted in Ginchi watershed area, Dandi district of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to identify farmers’ perception and ranking of the most important constraints to livestock production, and their perceived strategies to alleviate the problems. Data were collected and analyzed by participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools for this study. The most important problems of livestock production perceived by the farmers in the study area were feed shortage (100% of the key informants), animal disease (73%) and water shortage and poor quality during dry season (27%), respectively. Farmers ranked feed shortage as key constraint to livestock production. Farmers’ perception, ranking, reasons and strategies to alleviate the constraints to livestock production were discussed. In conclusion, there is need for technical and institutional intervention to alleviate the identified problems to livestock production through improved feed production and conservation, veterinary health care and services, increased availability of water and quality during the dry season. Key words: Constraints, feed, disease, livestock, water, participatory rural appraisal.

Eco-tourism is acknowledged for playing a central role in conservation of natural resources and improvement of livelihoods especially in biodiversity-rich areas of developing countries. Theoretically, support for conservation from rural residents who live next to protected areas is maximised if they benefit economically. Using Amani Nature Reserve (ANR) in Tanzania, as a case study, this paper examines whether and to what extent eco-tourism improves local livelihoods and hence conservation. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, Participatory Rural Appraisal and interviews with key stakeholders. Findings indicate that, over Tanzanian Shillings (TAS) 12 million (≈ US$10,000; US$ 1 = TAS 1300 in November 2007) are generated by ANR annually as revenue from eco-tourism. About 20% of this is distributed equally to the 18 villages that surround the reserve. Despite an increase in revenues, there was discontent among residents regarding the percentage share and other benefits they receive from eco...

The main objective of the forest policy in Iran is to protect forests through centralized state forest management. Still, forests are subject to deforestation and forest degradation. Parallel to centralized management, community-based traditional and informal practices are implemented. The aim of this study was to provide empirical evidence on organization, practices and performance of this management. The study was conducted in a village forest in northern Zagros by means of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and a systematic sample plot inventory. In general, the management appeared to be well organized and based on a rich knowledge base among local people. The PRA showed conscious considerations on long-term use of the forest. This was supported by the inventory results showing that the basal area growth (0.19 m2 ha− 1 yr− 1) was higher than natural mortality (0.06 m2 ha− 1 yr− 1) and harvest (0.10 m2 ha− 1 yr− 1). The study provides empirical evidence on successes and failures of community-based trad...

Considering the rapid changes in land use in tropical countries and the difficulties of law enforcement in remote areas, management of ecosystems benefits from the landscape approach. Within the landscape approach it is important to assess the different livelihoods of the local populations, as well as the vulnerability of the ecosystems that are supporting these livelihoods. Specifically for wetlands in rural tropical areas that face fast developing agro-industrial land use change, there is little information available on the attitude of stakeholders considering the ecosystems they manage. We used a combination of participatory rural appraisal and participatory mapping methods on rural wetlands in the Amazonian Piedmont region in Colombia, an area that has hardly ever been studied. We found that 77.7 % of the current livelihoods depend directly on the provisioning ecosystem services delivered by the wetlands, where fishing and hunting are the most important services that contribute to the household income. Ecotourism, which is emerging as a promising source of income, was also pointed as one key ecosystem service. However, our results revealed that the wetlands in our study area are very vulnerable (up to 41 % endangered). The main causes for wetland deterioration were cattle ranching, invasive grasses, deforestation, drainage, and burning. We conclude with a brief overview on the pros and cons of reconciling wetland conservation and human development in sensitive regions such as the Amazonian Piedmont in Colombia and other similar regions in the Tropics. ISSN:0923-4861 ISSN:1572-9834

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to climate change, given dependence on agricultural production and limited adaptive capacity. Based on farm household and Participatory Rural Appraisal data collected from districts in various agroecological zones in Kenya, this paper examines farmers' perceptions of climate change, ongoing adaptation measures, and factors influencing farmers' decisions to adapt. The results show that households face considerable challenges in adapting to climate change. While many households have made small adjustments to their farming practices in response to climate change (in particular, changing planting decisions), few households are able to make more costly investments, for example in agroforestry or irrigation, although there is a desire to invest in such measures. This emphasizes the need for greater investments in rural and agricultural development to support the ability of households to make strategic, long-term decisions that affect their future well-being.

The RED project which was implemented in four focal villages (with interventions) in the municipality of Guimba, and control site (no intervention) in Maragol, Science City of Munoz, both in the province of Nueva Ecija in the Philippines aimed to transform goat raising from subsistence farming into a viable livestock-based rural enterprise. Baseline data on biophysical, socioeconomic, institutional, infrastructure, goat production systems, marketing practices and previous technical performance were determined using structured questionnaires, key informants, secondary data and participatory rural appraisal (PRA)-focus group discussion (FGD). Farmer-partners are small hold livestock raisers who cultivate an average of 1.5 ha paddy-rice. Farmer’s skill and knowledge, attitude, skills, aspirations and social competence were enhanced using Crop Animal Systems Research Network (CASREN) modalities, capacity building, and S&T interventions. The adoption of technology mixes learned by farmer-partners that included upgrading, housing/stall feeding, strategic deworming, and intensified use of forage legumes improved goat productivity. Establishment of a community-based selection and breeding system through upgrading using Anglo-Nubian or Boer bucks in the focal sites produced bigger and heavier (p

Introduction Global consciousness on climate change problems and adaptation revolves around the disparity of information sharing and communication gap between theoretical scientific knowledge at academic end and practical implications of these at the vulnerable populations’ end. Coastal communities facing socio-economic stress, like densely populated Sundarbans, are the most affected part of the world, exposed to climate change problems and uncertainties. This article explores the successes of a socio-environmental project implemented at Indian Sundarbans targeted towards economic improvement and aims at communicating environmental conservation through organized community participation. Case description Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) and the wealth rank tool (WRT) were used to form a “group based organization” with 2100 vulnerable families to give them knowledge about capacity building, disaster management, resource conservation and sustainable agriculture practices. Training was conducted with the selected group members on resource conservation, institution building, alternative income generation activities (AIGA) like, Poultry, Small business, Tricycle van, Organic farming and disaster management in a participatory mode. The climate change ‘problems–solutions’ were communicated to this socio-economically marginalized and ostracized community through participatory educational theater (PET). Discussion and evaluation WRT revealed that 45 % of the population was under economic stress. Out of 2100 beneficiaries’, 1015 beneficiaries’ started organic farming, 133 beneficiaries’ adopted poultry instead of resource exploitive livelihood and 71 beneficiaries’ engaged themselves with small business, which was the success stories of this project. To mitigate disaster, 10-committees were formed and the endemic knowledge about climate change was recorded by participatory method validated through survey by structured questionnaire. As a part of this project 87 ha of naked deforested mudflat was reclaimed with endangered mangroves involving target community members aimed to sequester CO2, control soil erosion and act as a barrier during natural disasters. Conclusion This case study concluded that participatory method of communication, aiming not only to communicate theoretical knowledge, but also to devise adaptation strategies through conservation of endemic knowledge, popularizing sustainability through Micro Finance Institutions and promoting AIGA along with motivating vulnerable community to restore degraded forest lands, could be a effective solution to practically combat climate change problems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2816-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Current literature emphasizes the need to implement informed consent according to indigenous principles and worldviews. However, few studies explicitly address how informed consent can be effectively and appropriately obtained in indigenous communities in accordance with research ethics guidelines. Methods: This article uses participatory rural appraisal methods to identify and characterize community preferences for informed consent in two indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon, using Canadian federal research regulations and McGill University's Research Ethics Board as a case study to examine where institutional ethics guidelines constrain or support culturally appropriate notions of informed consent. Results: The study emphasizes the importance of tailoring informed consent procedures to community circumstances. Although both communities in this case study are located in the Peruvian Amazon, there were important distinctions between them, such as gender dynamics and social structure, which profoundly affected informed consent procedures. It is also important to consider the balance of collectivism and individualism at a community level in order to determine the role of individual and community consent. Conclusion: Research ethics guidelines generally allow for this contextualized approach. However, regulations still have the potential to constrain indigenous informed consent due to content requirements for informed consent forms, limited flexibility for modifications in the field, and requirements for individual consent.

Increasing frequency, intensity and duration of severe weather events are posing major challenges to global food security and livelihoods of rural people. Agriculture has evolved through adaptation to local circumstances for thousands of years. Local experience in responding to severe weather conditions, accumulated over generations and centuries, is valuable for developing adaptation options to current climate change. This study aimed to: (i) identify tree species that reduce vulnerability of cropping systems under climate variability; and (ii) develop a method for rapidly assessing vulnerability and exploring strategies of smallholder farmers in rural areas exposed to climate variability. Participatory Rural Appraisal methods in combination with Geographical Information Systems tools and statistical analysis of meteorological data were used to evaluate local vulnerability to climate change and to investigate local adaptation measures in two selected villages in Vietnam, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The low predictability of severe weather events makes food crops, especially grain production, insecure. This study shows that while rice and rain-fed crops suffered over 40 % yield losses in years of extreme drought or flood, tree-based systems and cattle were less affected. 13 tree species performed well under the harsh local climate conditions in home and forest gardens to provide income, food, feed and other environmental benefits. Thus, this research suggests that maintenance and enhancement of locally evolved agroforestry systems, with high resilience and multiple benefits, can contribute to climate change adaptation.

Certain parts of the State of Nagaland situated in the northeastern region of India have been experiencing rainfall deficit over the past few years leading to severe drought-like conditions, which is likely to be aggravated under a climate change scenario. The state has already incurred considerable losses in the agricultural sector. Regional vulnerability assessments need to be carried out in order to help policy makers and planners formulate and implement effective drought management strategies. The present study uses an ‘index-based approach’ to quantify the climate variability-induced vulnerability of farmers in five villages of Dimapur district, Nagaland. Indicators, which are reflective of the exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the farmers to drought, were quantified on the basis of primary data generated through household surveys and participatory rural appraisal supplemented by secondary data in order to calculate a composite vulnerability index. The composite vulnerability index of village New Showba was found to be the least, while Zutovi, the highest. The overall results reveal that biophysical characteristics contribute the most to overall vulnerability. Some potential adaptation strategies were also identified based on observations and discussions with the villagers.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the availability and use status of plant species and their genetic diversities from local forests and uncultivated lands in the context of three different Chepang ethnic communities of Nepal. In the current context of increased threats upon the natural resources to meet increased food demand, unsustainable harvest is also practised, leading to unavailability of the diversities, thus conservation and sustainable harvest were compared along with contribution of those neglected and underutilized species for food, nutrition and livelihood security of the local dwellers. Design/methodology/approach – This research was done by using multi-stage random sampling of 15 households from each village development committee (VDC), namely Shaktikhor, Kaule and Siddhi of Chitwan district of Nepal. The farmers’ participation in this study was ensured through participatory research methods, including group discussions (GD) and other Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools...

This paper examines the role and effectiveness of local institutions in the management of forest biodiversity in New Dabaga-Ulongambi Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, participatory rural appraisal and field observations. The study revealed that the most remarkable local institutions connected to forest biodiversity management include: Village Natural Resources Management Committee (92%), tree nursery group (79.4%), beekeeping groups (61.1%), fish farming (43.3%), livestock rearing group (33.9%). Main activities carried out by local institutions which directly contribute to the sustainability of forest reserve include: forest patrols, fire extinguish, preparation of fire breaks, planting of trees along the forest boundaries, creation of awareness, arresting of forest defaulters, participation in income generation activities. For the purpose of realization that local communities are capable of managing forest biodiversity thro...

Environmental perception has been drowning more and more attention all over the world.Through stratified random sampling survey,participatory rural appraisal and investigation of plots,117 household are investigated and sampled.Farmers are divided into three types:the farmer household,the household with combined occupation and the off farming household.Using the investigation data,the paper analyzes the environmental perception of the farmers of different livelihood strategies in the Gannan Plateau.The results show:(1)the farmers′ livelihood diversification is low,the livelihood diversification index of the farmers is 1.76,and of in the pure pasturing area,the farming-pastoral area and the farming area,the non-agricultural level is higher than its predecessor,but the non-agricultural activity is mainly doing work for others;(2) the farmers′ ecological attention is high,but the cognition of ecology protection is low,the ecological attention declines from the farmer household to the household with combined occupation and then to the off farming household,the index of ecological attention is 2.80,2.72 and 2.65 respectively,but the cognition of ecology protection increases accordingly,the index of the cognition is 2.00,2.22 and 2.26 respectively;(3) The majority of interviewees(nearly 76.92 per cent) consider that the local eco-environment is worse than recent years before,the farmer household′ environmental deterioration perception is the first,the secondary is the household with combined occupation,the third is the off farming household,the index of ecological change perception is 1.20,1.37 and 1.44;(4)The perception of grassland degradation and water resource shortage declines from the farmer household to the household with combined occupation and then to the off farming household;(5)The majority of interviewees(nearly 86.32 per cent) are willing to take part in the environment protection activity,the participation willing of the household with combined occupation is higher than the off farming household and the farmer household.

Protected areas such as national parks play a crucial role in global conservation efforts and also provide a range of socio-economic benefits. This paper draws from preliminary findings from an ongoing research project to review the broad theoretical socio-ecological perspectives and applies multidisciplinary research to environmental management. The aim of the overall research program is to investigate the relationship between sustainable livelihood and natural resource management in northern Thailand’s national park communities, with a view to enhancing compatibility. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and qualitative research methods are used to develop an in-depth understanding of the governing institutions in natural resource management with regard to the context and perception of sustainable livelihoods. Our preliminary results show that sustainable livelihood activities are related to environmental conservation initiatives, such as annual forest restoration, the establishment of fire breaks, water resources management, and community-based ecotourism, which are the vital parts of natural resource management in northern Thailand’s national park communities. In addition, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the pathway for national economic and tourism development, which will promote change in terms of socio-economic development in local, national and regional ASEAN countries. The recommendation of this study considers that community empowerment to participate in natural resource management decisions is the significant pathway to support both sustainable livelihood and environmental conservation efforts within northern Thailand’s national parks.

This paper describes a recently developed training module on the “ecosystem approach”, with the military as target group. Initiated by NATO-affiliated Civil-Military Co-operation Centre of Excellence (CIMIC COE), the module fits into a multidisciplinary new training approach, in which the military learns to integrate specific concepts into their missions, such as environmental issues. In developing the training module, a combination of the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques has been formed into a stepwise approach for military to enable them to quickly scan and analyse important environmental issues in their mission environments. The result of the training module is an instructive publication and an attached instruction card, the latter being a tool commonly used by military

Evaluating environmentally sustainable and culturally sensitive approaches to natural resource management issues is a necessary step towards improving livelihoods in rural South Africa. This study assessed the applicability of various agroforestry practices to natural resource management issues in the village of GaMothiba located in the northwestern region of South Africa. Agroforestry assessments were carried out using a community based approach through the application of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods. These methods were selected in order to assess the acceptability of agroforestry practices according to the perspective of the local people. The assessment process culminated in a variety of community designed agroforestry interventions. The acceptability of agroforestry practices is largely influenced by the degree of community cohesion, land rights, and cooperation between traditional and municipal authority figures. Understanding the opportunities and constraints of agroforestry adoption in rural sub-Saharan Africa furthers the movement towards community based natural resource management and ultimately a more sustainable approach to rural development.