Case studies of forest-related conflict management
The two case studies presented here seek to share the recent, real-life experience of Africans who have used the processes and principles of consensual negotiation to address natural resource conflicts.
The case study documentation was carried out as part of a program for building of African capacity to manage and resolve natural resource conflicts. It was initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Livelihood Support Programme (LSP) and funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).
Members of the conflict management teams featured here in the two case studies participated in the African Training-of-Trainers Program . Practitioners learned how to engage in consensual negotiations/mediation through hands-on experience in trying to manage or resolve an ongoing dispute involving natural resources. They were asked to document and reflect on what happened in implementing the principles and methods of consensual negotiation and collaboration building.
The case studies presented here not only illustrate the nature of conflicts involving community natural resource management, but also shed light on the practical steps and actions entailed in trying to foster, achieve and implement a negotiated agreement. In many ways they can be considered “success stories,” but they transcend such a goal. Instead, the case studies clearly reveal the complexities and challenges faced by practitioners actively engaged in natural resource conflict. Effective conflict management based on consensual negotiation requires not only commitment, skills and logistical support; it also requires a policy environment conducive for collaborative conflict management processes.