Communication for Development: A Medium for Innovation in Natural Resource Management

This 25-page paper published by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presents, through stories and examples, the experience of people and projects worldwide where communication methods and approaches have been applied to address natural resource management (NRM) problems. It is an effort to help decision-makers, planners and practicioners understand why and how communication for development activities can support sustainable NRM and rural development efforts.

"In the past, western society emphasized the scientific side of resource management, but today the field is the meeting ground of several different disciplines. People are at the center of the debate as human activity is seen as central to the management of the ecosystem. With people at the center of natural resource management, communication becomes important. We are talking about the planned communication that must be factored in to facilitate program/project implementation."

Key Points

• According to the authors, NRM is no longer just about individual sectors of forestry, agriculture, or fisheries or focused on specific natural resources, but includes the people that are part of the ecosystem.
• NRM practitioners can no longer expect to control nature since nature has proven to respond in unpredictable manner to human intervention. Instead, they must recognise that they have no choice but to engage others in negotiation and to make ongoing adaptation a part of NRM.
• Practitioners have to learn to engage many parties in deciding how to manage relationships with others, with policies and with use of natural resources.
• There is a need for a new emphasis on participation, consultation, listening, and training.
• There is a need for new policies, new disciplines, new linkages, and new staff expertise.
• NRM practitioners need to learn to involve people in decision-making; to access people's views; to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue; to build capacity and understanding; and to listen to others and share ideas.
• Ramírez and Quarry state unequivocally that communication skills and understanding their use are now essential to NRM.

Click here for the paper in PDF format.