Abstract
A project to develop and trial a framework of processes and tools for community-based natural resource planning was conducted in Zimbabwe and North Queensland between 1998 and 2002. The project, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research arose from initial country visits and discussions which indicated that whilst there had been considerable planning activity in both countries there was limited evidence of these activities having contributed to improved NRM outcomes. Review of the literature and experience in both countries suggested that to be successful planning needed to include a balance of elements of 'bottom-up' or participatory approaches and 'top-down' or technocratic approaches. To this end, the project was designed to trial a set of tools and techniques including: participatory methods, computer-based resource mapping and modelling, and multi-objective decision support systems. A key lesson from the project was that a mix of both participatory and technocratic tools was appropriate but that it needed to be 'situation specific', using language appropriate to the culture, reflecting societal norms appropriate to the setting, and working within local governance structures. A multi-dimensional conceptual model - community-based planning space - is proposed as a guide in selecting processes and tools that are appropriate to particular circumstances.