Sustainability, Ecology, and Religions of the World [Working Title]
Islam, based on the prescriptions of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be... more Islam, based on the prescriptions of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), provides guiding principles on the relationship between humans and the rest of the creation. A fundamental aspect of that relationship is that humans are a part of the creation, including known and unknown living creatures. Islamic teaching emphasises the specific ability of humans to act with understanding, compared to the rest of the creation. Such pre-eminence comes with practical obligations to preserve and use natural resources, be it water, land, or animals sustainably and within limits. The article presents the ecological ethics of Islam and describes how it is being revitalised through education. Finally, it presents principles and means to act responsibly on key global environmental challenges such that society can function in harmony with itself and with nature.
PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate community‐based natural resource ... more PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate community‐based natural resource management as an alternative approach to government stewardship of natural resources. The paper discusses Kenya's experience with community‐based approaches, identifies some of the problems that have been experienced in implementing the approach, and suggests ways of strengthening these approaches to ensure that natural resources are managed more sustainably and efficiently and in ways that generate tangible economic benefits to local communities.Design/methodology/approachThe research reported in this paper was undertaken through an extensive review of existing literature, discussions with representatives of local communities and resource managers and personal observations.FindingsThe paper finds that the community‐based approach to the stewardship of natural resources is a viable alternative to state management and can, if properly implemented, result in more equitable distribution of power and economic benefits, reduced conflicts, increased consideration of traditional and modern environmental knowledge, protection of biological diversity, and sustainable utilization of natural resources. In many cases where the approach has been implemented it has not yielded substantial benefits mainly because of institutional, environmental and organizational factors. The successful implementation of CBNRM projects requires a legal and policy framework that empowers local communities and grants them responsibility and authority for natural resource management. It also requires that an acceptable formula be defined for the sharing of the benefits and responsibilities.Practical implicationsThis paper challenges the stewardship of natural resources by the state and presents arguments in support of a community based approach that prioritizes the livelihood needs of local communities and provides them with strong incentives to conserve and utilize natural resources sustainably.Originality/valueThis paper is original in applying the principles of community based natural resource management to specific local wildlife and forestry cases in Kenya.
Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to... more Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to promote participatory democracy and improve natural resource management. Inequitable access to and use of natural resources characterised apartheid-era policies and practices. In line with post-1990 democratisation processes, public involvement, participation, community-based initiatives and co-management have been promoted as key aspects of natural resource management policies. Power sharing, empowerment, organisational capacity building and improved natural resource management are some of the key principles of co-management within the South African context. This paper will explore the applicability of the co-management concept to the enhancement of rural livelihoods in South Africa with specific reference to the conservation sector, and coastal and marine resources policy and implementation processes. Comanagement initiatives in the fisheries and conservation sectors in South Africa h...
Meeting: International Association for the Study of Common Property, 31 May - 4 June, 2000, Bloom... more Meeting: International Association for the Study of Common Property, 31 May - 4 June, 2000, Bloomington, IN, US
Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to... more Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to promote participatory democracy and improve natural resource management. Inequitable access to and use of natural resources characterised apartheid-era policies and practices. In line with post-1990 democratisation processes, public involvement, participation, community-based initiatives and co-management have been promoted as key aspects of natural resource management policies. Power sharing, empowerment, organisational capacity building and improved natural resource management are some of the key principles of co-management within the South African context. This paper will explore the applicability of the co-management concept to the enhancement of rural livelihoods in South Africa with specific reference to the conservation sector, and coastal and marine resources policy and implementation processes. Comanagement initiatives in the fisheries and conservation sectors in South Africa h...
A research paper on regional natural resource management and governance programmes in Southern Af... more A research paper on regional natural resource management and governance programmes in Southern Africa.
By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained... more By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification.
Abstract This paper uses the environmental considerations of the land reform programme and the st... more Abstract This paper uses the environmental considerations of the land reform programme and the status of sustainable agriculture in South Africa to develop a case for a sustainable land reform programme. It is suggested that agricultural sustainability should constitute a key characteristic of any land policy. Furthermore, it is indicated that the land reform programme in South Africa has many of the ingredients for facilitating sustainable agricultural development.
We are grateful to IASCP for accepting our proposal for a panel on 'Constituting the commons in t... more We are grateful to IASCP for accepting our proposal for a panel on 'Constituting the commons in the new South Africa', at which these papers were presented. We are also grateful to Dr James Murombedzi and the Ford Foundation for their role in stimulating and funding our participation in the conference, and their support for work at PLAAS on community-based natural resource management. However, we take full responsibility for any inadequacies in these papers, and for the opinions expressed in them.
Sustainability, Ecology, and Religions of the World [Working Title]
Islam, based on the prescriptions of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be... more Islam, based on the prescriptions of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), provides guiding principles on the relationship between humans and the rest of the creation. A fundamental aspect of that relationship is that humans are a part of the creation, including known and unknown living creatures. Islamic teaching emphasises the specific ability of humans to act with understanding, compared to the rest of the creation. Such pre-eminence comes with practical obligations to preserve and use natural resources, be it water, land, or animals sustainably and within limits. The article presents the ecological ethics of Islam and describes how it is being revitalised through education. Finally, it presents principles and means to act responsibly on key global environmental challenges such that society can function in harmony with itself and with nature.
PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate community‐based natural resource ... more PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate community‐based natural resource management as an alternative approach to government stewardship of natural resources. The paper discusses Kenya's experience with community‐based approaches, identifies some of the problems that have been experienced in implementing the approach, and suggests ways of strengthening these approaches to ensure that natural resources are managed more sustainably and efficiently and in ways that generate tangible economic benefits to local communities.Design/methodology/approachThe research reported in this paper was undertaken through an extensive review of existing literature, discussions with representatives of local communities and resource managers and personal observations.FindingsThe paper finds that the community‐based approach to the stewardship of natural resources is a viable alternative to state management and can, if properly implemented, result in more equitable distribution of power and economic benefits, reduced conflicts, increased consideration of traditional and modern environmental knowledge, protection of biological diversity, and sustainable utilization of natural resources. In many cases where the approach has been implemented it has not yielded substantial benefits mainly because of institutional, environmental and organizational factors. The successful implementation of CBNRM projects requires a legal and policy framework that empowers local communities and grants them responsibility and authority for natural resource management. It also requires that an acceptable formula be defined for the sharing of the benefits and responsibilities.Practical implicationsThis paper challenges the stewardship of natural resources by the state and presents arguments in support of a community based approach that prioritizes the livelihood needs of local communities and provides them with strong incentives to conserve and utilize natural resources sustainably.Originality/valueThis paper is original in applying the principles of community based natural resource management to specific local wildlife and forestry cases in Kenya.
Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to... more Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to promote participatory democracy and improve natural resource management. Inequitable access to and use of natural resources characterised apartheid-era policies and practices. In line with post-1990 democratisation processes, public involvement, participation, community-based initiatives and co-management have been promoted as key aspects of natural resource management policies. Power sharing, empowerment, organisational capacity building and improved natural resource management are some of the key principles of co-management within the South African context. This paper will explore the applicability of the co-management concept to the enhancement of rural livelihoods in South Africa with specific reference to the conservation sector, and coastal and marine resources policy and implementation processes. Comanagement initiatives in the fisheries and conservation sectors in South Africa h...
Meeting: International Association for the Study of Common Property, 31 May - 4 June, 2000, Bloom... more Meeting: International Association for the Study of Common Property, 31 May - 4 June, 2000, Bloomington, IN, US
Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to... more Co-managing the commons within the new governance structures of South Africa has the potential to promote participatory democracy and improve natural resource management. Inequitable access to and use of natural resources characterised apartheid-era policies and practices. In line with post-1990 democratisation processes, public involvement, participation, community-based initiatives and co-management have been promoted as key aspects of natural resource management policies. Power sharing, empowerment, organisational capacity building and improved natural resource management are some of the key principles of co-management within the South African context. This paper will explore the applicability of the co-management concept to the enhancement of rural livelihoods in South Africa with specific reference to the conservation sector, and coastal and marine resources policy and implementation processes. Comanagement initiatives in the fisheries and conservation sectors in South Africa h...
A research paper on regional natural resource management and governance programmes in Southern Af... more A research paper on regional natural resource management and governance programmes in Southern Africa.
By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained... more By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification.
Abstract This paper uses the environmental considerations of the land reform programme and the st... more Abstract This paper uses the environmental considerations of the land reform programme and the status of sustainable agriculture in South Africa to develop a case for a sustainable land reform programme. It is suggested that agricultural sustainability should constitute a key characteristic of any land policy. Furthermore, it is indicated that the land reform programme in South Africa has many of the ingredients for facilitating sustainable agricultural development.
We are grateful to IASCP for accepting our proposal for a panel on 'Constituting the commons in t... more We are grateful to IASCP for accepting our proposal for a panel on 'Constituting the commons in the new South Africa', at which these papers were presented. We are also grateful to Dr James Murombedzi and the Ford Foundation for their role in stimulating and funding our participation in the conference, and their support for work at PLAAS on community-based natural resource management. However, we take full responsibility for any inadequacies in these papers, and for the opinions expressed in them.
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Papers by Najma Mohamed