Community-based Biodiversity Management (CBM) and Livelihoods

Community biodiversity management is a participatory approach to strengthen the capacity of local institutions and farmers for managing biodiversity for social, economic and environmental benefits to the community. Considering that knowledge is power for making rational decisions, the method facilitates the process of knowledge documentation by sharing and learning and developing the local capacity to understand the amount and distribution of local biodiversity and explore opportunities to harness livelihood-based biodiversity assets in an effective and sustainable manner. The rationale of CBM is that the local community institutions can be strengthened through the management of community based knowledge systems to identify, conserve, manage, add value, and exchange on-farm local diversity through community actions.
Community-based biodiversity management is embedded in existing social structures and local institutions ranging from families to markets. Local systems of classification of crop and species diversity reflect socio-cultural perspectives for recognizing and using genetic diversity and its functional attributes. Locally managed seed systems are among the most important complex of community institutions for agricultural biodiversity management including managed forests, home gardens and agroforestry systems. Seed diversity and its associated knowledge is regulated by a set of specific rights, responsibilities and division of labour, often related to gender and age.

Social networks play a key role in determining access to seed and information. Relationships of trust and affection within the extended family, neighborhoods or beyond are fundamental to the decision-making process, while norms, laws, rules, procedures, traditions, customs and practices influence the choice of individuals. All of which affect the movement of genes within households, villages, between villages, and over larger geographic areas.

Maximizing the contribution of agricultural biodiversity to sustainable livelihoods may involve strengthening human and social capital in ways that support the management of the natural capital, including plant genetic resources. Biodiversity is only asset available to resource poor farmers for managing vulnerability, uncertainties, shocks and stresses and therefore, access to and control for such resources are critical issue related management of biodiversity on-farm optimally. Entry points may include: improved access to biodiversity, education, training and technologies; strengthening of village and farmer organisations; empowerment of farmers in understanding and use of their own rights; communication.

CBM Publications and presentations

Tools for Participatory Research document

Participatory Plant Breeding publication

Coconuts publication

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agricultural Biodiversity

Participatory approaches to the conservation and use of PGR

Cultures and Landscapes presentation: PDF file (1.07 Mb) or PDF file zipped (621.90 KB)

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Human aspects