James P. Robson

Building communities of learning: indigenous ways of knowing in contemporary natural resources and environmental management

In this paper, we explore the emergence of what we term ‘communities of learning’ within the context of natural resources and environmental management (NREM). These communi-ties reflect new forms of interaction and cooperation between NREM decision makers that bring together the unique contributions of indigenous ways of knowing alongside academic and scientific approaches. Here, ‘indigenous ways of knowing’ refer to how indigenous and local peoples cultivate knowledge in the context of NREM (Berkes 2009 this issue). This is a ‘place-based’ process that embodies knowledge of species, livelihood practices and cultural beliefs, values and norms. In NREM, as in other fields, indigenous cultures have often been viewed through a binary lens, either as an impediment to socioeconomic progress, or as static packages of knowledge, belief and practice that must therefore be preserved from homogenising pressures, such as globalisation (Marglin 1990; Arce & Long 2000; Sen 2004). Rarely have indigenous ways of knowing been recognised as adaptive, dynamic assets for building diverse development trajectories that reflect local needs and aspirations. Where this has occurred, however, the shift in thinking has enabled researchers to explore knowledge as an adaptive cultural ele-ment, as well as encourage a much more practical engagement between indigenous groups, researchers and policy makers/managers. In doing so, it allows for place-based alternatives for both research and management policies in contemporary cross-cultural settings (Sillitoe 2006; Davidson-Hunt & O’Flaherty 2007). In this instance, indigenous groups are our focus. However, communities of learning may organise around other resource-dependent groups for the construction of ‘place-based’ knowledge. In a management context, the ability of different actors to meaningfully contribute to creat-ing solutions shifts in relation to the authority they are able to claim against competing world views and fields of action. ‘Communities of learning’ result from the recognition that each community possesses unique knowledge and resources that can contribute to management decisions. Figure 1 illustrates the potential convergence of these dominant players to form communities of learning.

Local approaches to biodiversity conservation: lessons from Oaxaca, southern Mexico

Large areas of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, exhibit high biodiversity in the absence of official protected areas. This paper discusses some of the key mechanisms and practices employed by local communities to help conserve their forest resources. The findings suggest that learning from local resource management systems should become an important component of future conservation planning in Mexico. This will require conservationists and the wider public to consider local communities to be a necessary part of territorial and ecological processes and, in some instances, to give them a greater role in biodiversity conservation and stewardship of the countrys forest commons. However, such a shift in thinking is unlikely to occur until more research is carried out to determine the specific impacts of these land-use systems on biodiversity and ecological integrity.

Transnational Migration, Customary Governance, and the Future of Community A Case Study from Oaxaca, Mexico

Common-property regimes owned and governed by predominantly indigenous communities are widespread in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The traditional governance systems of these communities are under strain because of transnational migration, which reduces the number of resident adults available to assume public offices and contribute labor to community projects. A study of responses to this situation in two such communities identified adaptations including the establishment of hometown associations in migrant communities in the United States and the requirement that migrants hire substitutes to fulfill their obligations in the home community. Given shifts in migration patterns and migrant profiles, however, these adaptations have so far been insufficient to relieve the stress on governance institutions, and this has implications for community identity and governance in the future. Regímenes de propiedad comunitaria en donde los propietarios y gobernantes son las comunidades indígenas son comunes en el estado mexicano de Oaxaca. En la actualidad las estructuras tradicionales de gobernación de estas comunidades sufren bajo la tensión causada por la migración trasnacional, la cual reduce el número de residentes adultos disponibles para asumir cargos públicos y prestar mano de obra para proyectos de la comunidad. Un estudio de las respuestas a esta situación en dos de esas comunidades identificó adaptaciones que incluyen el establecimiento de asociaciones de tierra de origen en las comunidades de migrantes en los Estados Unidos y el requerimiento de contratar a suplentes que cumplan las obligaciones de los migrantes en sus comunidades de origen. Sin embargo, dados los cambios en el modelo migratorio y el perfil del migrante, estas adaptaciones han sido hasta el momento insuficientes para aliviar la tensión en las instituciones de gobierno, lo cual tiene implicaciones para el futuro de la identidad y gobernación comunitarias.

Current Trends in Latin American Commons Research

Little is known, in a collective sense, about commons or commons research across the diverse regions and countries that make up Latin America. This paper addresses that knowledge gap by means of a review of communal land tenure data for the region, followed by a detailed analysis of international scholarly publications and conference presentations on Latin American commons, covering the period 1990–2012. We show that commons scholarship in the region, while growing, is focused on a relatively small number of countries. We speculate on the reasons for this, as well as identify the challenges that face commons researchers in Latin America as it looks to maximise the academic and policy impact of their work.

A problem of social fit? Assessing the role of bridging organizations in the recoupling of socio-ecological systems

The decoupling of human-ecosystem relationships in underutilized forested or agricultural regions poses a threat to cultural and biological diversities. Some scholars have proposed transformative strategies involving local-led efforts to reconnect social and ecological systems with the support of bridging organizations (BOs). However, empirically-based understandings about how and under what conditions BOs can address context-specific social conditions to enable transformation work remain limited. Using the concept of social fit - how institutional arrangements address contextual social conditions to enhance governance effectiveness - this study examines the work of the Kyoto Model Forest Association (KMFA), a BO, in improving the relationship between forests and people in Kyoto, Japan. We employed a mixed method approach involving a questionnaire survey, document review, semi-structured interviews, and direct observations. Our findings showed that to improve human-ecosystem interdependence, the KMFA prioritized the provision of public education; invested in places and systems to reduce participation costs; built trust and reduced value mismatches; provided incentives and built management capacity; provided leadership to diverse local forestry groups; facilitated institutional integration of forest and non-forest organizations; and drew resources from diverse organizations. These roles broadened the participation of different actors with novel connections to local ecosystems, enhanced self-organizing capacities, and streamlined the roles of forest management institutions. To sustain these efforts, the KMFA needs to continuously adapt to meet the needs and perceptions of diverse and dynamic actors and to broaden participation. Our analysis provides evidence of the efficacy of BOs to recouple human-ecosystem relationships and improve governance outcomes in underutilized social-ecological systems.