Exploring the Potentials of Community-Based Natural Resource Management for Benefiting Local Communities: Policies and Practice in Four Communities in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

This article contributes to the debate about the potentials of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) for benefiting local communities. It is based on a case study of the implementation of joint forest management (JFM) policies in four communities in Andhra Pradesh, India. The case study results show varying outcomes across communities, both intended and unintended. The article argues that attributes of communities and relationships of power play significant roles in producing differing policy outcomes in the communities. Furthermore, the article identifies educational levels of and internal power relations in the communities as important factors that influence the actual results of JFM policies. The article concludes that an analytical focus on the dynamic interaction between policies and local contexts and increased “reflexibility” in the design and implementation of CBNRM are required for such initiatives to realize their potentials.