Communication and Natural Resource Management

Experience/Theory

Prepared by The Communication Initiative in collaboration with the
Communication for Development Group

Extension, Education and Communication Service
Research, Extension and Training Division
Sustainable Development Department

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2003

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Table of Contents

A World of Finite Resources

Critical Perspectives

Changing Approaches to Natural Resource Management

Communication for development and Social Change

Insights and Direction

Experience 1 - Community Based Natural Resource Management - Namibia

Theme: Principles and Action

Learning Objective: To improve participants' understanding of the relationship between differing communication principles for effective change, and the planning and organisation of their actions.

Experience 2 - Pastoralist Communication - Kenya

Theme: Voices and Action

Learning Objective: To advance participants' understanding of effective communication strategies, where substantive action is sourced in the voice and perspective of the people most affected.

Experience 3 - Indigenous Forest Management - Cambodia

Theme: Issue Analysis for Action

Learning Objective: To expand participants' skills at analyzing the issues to be addressed by the communication initiative.

Experience 4 - Recovering from Conflict - Viet Nam

Theme: Contextual Analysis for Action

Learning Objective: To improve participants' skills at analyzing the contexts for change.

Experience 5 - Internet Radio - Sri Lanka

Theme: Culture and Action

Learning Objective: To expand participants' awareness of the relationship between culture, context and strategy, in developing effective communication initiatives.

Experience 6 - Regional Networking - Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Theme: Behavioural or Social Action

Learning Objective: To develop participants' ability to understand the relation between individual behaviour change and structural/social obstacles or supports to that change.

Experience 7 - Creating Local Organic Markets - Turkey

Theme: Education or Dialogue for Action

Learning Objective: To improve participant's ability to understand key differences between approaches emphasising education or dialogue and the programmatic implications of those emphases.

Experience 8 - Environmental Education and Communication Project: El Salvador, The Gambia, and Jordan

Theme: Innovation and Action

Learning Objective: To heighten participants' critical skills at matching the requirements for action with the context for that action.

Drawing Your Own Conclusions

Theme: Planning for Action

Learning Objective: To prioritise the lessons of the previous 8 experiences and reflect on how they will impact your future communication for development and NRM work.

NOTES