Paper short abstract:

The paper analysis the effectiveness of participatory natural resource governance system for environmental sustainability in Zimbabwe

Paper long abstract:

The participatory conservation approach entails a situation wherein the state and non-state actors ranging from local to global, are reciprocally connected through actions and practices based on a common understanding on natural resource governance. The environmental management issues link traditionally independent state actors together and these modern natural resource governance practice has led to the inclusion of a range of state and non-state actors, donor organisations,non-governmental organisations,communities and academic institutions in resource governance. The relationship between different actors and the physical environment is conditioned by power relations. The widespread and dispersed powers over customary users of natural resources may work both to promote and resist the issue of natural resource governance. These actors may exert control over the environmental resources such as land and forest and can also monopolise a valued environment resource to control the ensuing economic benefits that may be derived from the exploi tation of that resource. Whilst it is agreed that co-management of natural resources enhances conservation of environmental resources, it should be understood that it is making human-society-nature relations more complex and dynamic. This paper therefore questions the continual environmental degradation in the world and particularly in Zimbabwe despite the existence of multi-stakeholders in natural resource governance. Given the supposed failure to address environmental problems in the country, the paper further explores factors affecting the involvement of so many actors in local resource use and its implications for ensuring sustainable use of land and forest resources.