Natural Resource Management at the Crossroads of Three Theoretical Perspectives

Abstract: The current literature on community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa is mostly concerned with discussing the failure of the programme. This is mainly done from a Western perspective with the underlying assumption that Western institutions need to be in place in order for CBNRM to become successful. This leads to the question of whether the underlying assumption could be flawed? Theories shape the results and it is therefore possible that the perspective has created the failure. To understand and develop CBNRM to become more successful, a change in perspectives that takes grassroot levels (Ostrom 1990) and African structures (Comaroff & Comaroff 2012) into account are needed. The study illustrates that since locals’ livelihoods are normally dependent on the natural resources, more is at stake for the citizens than for the central authorities regarding the management of it. Considering that many of the conditions for the alternative perspectives to function are in place, changing the perspective, from the top-down Western perspective, to more culturally sensitive ones is important to increase the understanding and to further develop the CBNRM programmes.