Local communities as users of localized natural resources tend to accumulate firsthand knowledge about status and functioning of such resources. Such ever-growing
store house of knowledge, at the local level exists as powerful information banks
scattered amongst local community members. The book discusses a methodology to
approach local communities to learn about their rich information systems and
appreciate the logic of community involvement and participation as stakeholders, in
conservation and preservation of natural resources. The study brings out local
communities' knowledge-base, perspectives, experience, problems priorities, livelihood
practices, managerial expertise and organizational capabilities in the sphere of natural
resources. It explains and illustrates major participatory methods for learning from
local communities about localized natural resources. The book also includes analysis
of selected participatory processes and reflections on community participation. It
describes case studies focused on relationship of local communities with natural
resources in the areas of poverty, food insecurity, specie-selection, problemprioritisation,
assessment and valuation of benefits, gender, conflict-situation and
participatory management of natural resources.