Community based natural resource management for development: A study of selected sites in the Nzema East district

Abstract

The last two decades have witnessed a ‘paradigm shift’ in conservation and natural resource Management away from costly state-centered control towards approaches in which local people play a much more active role. The inefficiency of state control over natural resources use, has partly led to poverty, forest degradation and lack of participation by local actors in resource management. The purpose of this study therefore was to analyse the emergence and development of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) and how it affects the livelihood of farmers practicing CBNRM in Ghana. A total sample of 100 household members and 20 key CBNRM stakeholders were covered in five communities in the Nzema East District. The methodology of the study was conducted with qualitative and quantitative approach. There were two interviews; one at the household level and the other at key CBNRM stakeholder level. The data was analysed quantitatively using SPSS with functions such as simple frequency distributions, cross tabulations, percentages and graphs, and qualitatively using the descriptive method. The CBNRM Path Way Model, the literature and evidence from empirical studies were used for the interpretation and discussion of the findings. The study revealed that farmers practicing CBNRM fell high above the Ghana statistical poverty line of per adult expenditure per year. The study concludes that the use of CBNRM is an effective tool for livelihood improvement of the farmers for the short, medium and long term development needs of farmers practicing CBNRM. Therefore, it is recommended that government should review its policies on CBNRM in relation to poverty alleviation and professional skill development of the youth in training and tertiary institutions for efficient and effective pro-poor programmes.