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Zimbabwe: Landuse in Dry Tropical Savannas






Global policy and institutional framework

Global concerns for sustainable resource management are enshrined in the and Agenda 21 , both outputs of global discussions where governments reviewed current policies and mapped out new agendas to change the course of development towards one that is more sustainable. At these meetings, general world views, concepts and practices that would facilitate sustainable development were redefined. Signature by member countries to various such agreements obligates the government to tasks and practices set out to meet the goals of the convention or protocol e.g. the Biodiversity Convention.

The current themes highlighted in Agenda 21 promote local-based planning frameworks where the communities are involved in drawing up management plans for their environments. To this end IUCN in Zimbabwe and other countries in Africa has been promoting the implementation of district environmental management plans which are developed with the participation of the local people .Use of participatory appraisal methods (PRA) for both development and research has been promoted widely as the first step to understanding systems of production and conditions for management14. Another theme highlighted in Agenda 21 is the promotion of programs and initiatives which benefit the global community while at the same time addressing the local and national needs. While this goal is desirable, it seems impracticable when applied in real situations . It seems impossible to address the local goals of the communities and still make a meaningful impact on the global environment. The main problem is that of perception, where local communities and even nation states see their problems as local, not regional or global and find it difficult to spent money to promote programs which have global but limited local benefits.

Finally, it is important to build into any program, the social and environmental costs that accrue. Though frequently, global concerns are regardedas remote andrrelevant to the local and national situation, there are linkages that can not be ignored, there are problems that affect local populations and effect regional and global communities as well e.g. global warming. A good example of reconciling different levels of interests is in community management of wildlife through CAMPFIRE. In this example, the community and the national government, the region and the international community are all concerned with the use of elephants.


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