COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN SRI LANKA· A REVIEW OF SOME PROJECTS

Abstract

Community participation is an approach that is receiving attention across the globe, andone that marks a departure from the 'catching up' , 'top down' orientation whichcharacterised the cultural dimension of the modernist perspective of development whichwas in vogue in the 1960' s.

This paper reviews a number of community participation projects which had beenformulated to conserve the country's natural resources and to empower people and ruralcommunities tomanage and protect them in a sustainable manner while reaping economicbenefits. The projects that are discussed are two coastal resources management projects ofthe Coast Conservation Department located in Hikkaduwa (dealing with the conservationof corel reet) and Rekawa (dealing with lagoon and mangrove habitat conservation) andtwo community based management projects located in Ritigala (dealing with medicinalplants) and Kahalle - Pallekelle (dealing with human-elephant conflict). The followingaspects are highlighted in each of these projects/cases;

* the degree/level of community participation

* the presence of collaborative decision making and co-management

* the key natural resource problems and their underlying causes

* the key stakeholders and interest of each stakeholder group

* the management strategies adopted, the extent to which these have beenable to address the needs of the community

* the degree of sustainability

The paper synthesises the degree of success and failures of each project in its approach tothe community. planning, implementation and monitoring. Recommendations are givenfor future improvement of community based conservation in Sri Lanka.