Towards sustainable co-management organization: a case study of the Baikka Beel, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh

Shahidul Islam  Bhuiya

doi:10.17017/j.fish.78

Shahidul Islam Bhuiya Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh

Keywords: CMOs, co-management organizations, sustainability, conceptual framework, wetland conservation, NRM, natural resource management, Baikka Beel

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Baikka Beel, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh from July, 2012 to October, 2012. This paper examined the role and performance of the CMOs in the Beel management and the challenges faced by the CMO members. Primary information were collected through focus group discussions using conceptual framework. Organizational development, leadership development, capital formation, women and gender development and conflict resolution were used to examine the performance of the CMOs. The result revealed that the RMO and FRUG were in satisfactory level in sustainability except RMO network. However CMOs were facing some challenges. These included policy level (amendment of Fish Act 1950 regarding permanent sanctuary, lease period extension complexity, no national and social recognition of CMO members, less awareness program to the non-CMO respondents, few scope of media highlight and no fund especially in RMO network operation) and operational level (no vehicle to rush to protect the poaching, no provision of honorary for RMO members, less training in capacity building and regional and statewide interactions). At last some recommendations were made for both policy and operational level. Finally new project could be implemented through the implementation of the research findings towards sustainable CMOs.

References

Ahmed M, Capistrano AD and Hossain M (1997) Experience of Partnership Models for the Co-Management of Bangladesh Fisheries. Fisheries Management and Ecology 4(3): 233-248.

Berkes F, George PJ and Preston RJ (1991) The evolution of theory and practice of the joint administration of living resources. Alternatives 18(2): 12–18.

Borrini-Feyerabend M, Pimber, MT, Farvar A, Kothari M and Renard Y (2004) Sharing Power: Learning by Doing in Co-management on Natural Resources throughout the World, IIED and IUCN/CEESP, Cenesta pub., Tehran, Iran.

Cliffe S, Guggenheim S and Kostner M (2003) Community-Driven Reconstruction as an Instrument in War-to-Peace Transitions, CPR Working Paper, no. 7, World Bank, Washington, DC

Degnbol P, Carlberg A, Ellingsen H, Tonder M, Varjopuro R, Wilson C (2003) Integrating fisheries and environmental policies. Nordic Council of Ministers, TemaNord. 521 pp.

Finlayson M (2003) Ecosystem assessment: links between science and community- the common ground. Ecological Management & Restoration 4: 3-4.

Integrated Protected Area Co-Management, IPAC. www.nisorgo.org, accessed on 25 January, 2009.

Jentoft S and McCay BJ (2003) The place of civil society in fisheries management: a research agenda for fisheries co-management. In: The Fisheries Co-management Experience. Accomplishments, Challenges and Prospects (eds.) D.C. Wilson, J.R. Nielson and P. Degnbol). Kluwer academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 293-308.

Khan NA (2010) Towards a conceptual framework for capacity assessment of local institutions in natural resource management. Journal of Development Studies Dhaka University. p. 120.

Mansuri G and Rao V (2003) Evaluating Community-Based and Community-Driven Development: A Critical Review of the Evidence, Development Research Group, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Maynard K (2006) Community driven Development Approaches in Conflict Affected Countries: challenges and opportunities. The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA. pp. 1-89.

Pinkerton E (1989) Attaining better fisheries Management through Co-management Prospects, Problems and Proportion. In Pinkerton, E. (ed.), Cooperative Management of Local Fisheries: New Directions for Improved Management and Community Development (U. of BC Press 1989).

Plummer R (2006) A resilience-based framework for evaluating adaptive co-management: Linking ecology, economics and society in a complex world. Ecological Economics 61: 62-74.

Zakhilwal O and Thomas JM (2005) ‘Afghanistan: What Kind of Peace? The Role of Rural Development in Peace-building’, Working Paper, ‘What Kind of Peace is Possible?’ Governance and Social Development Resource Centre project. www.nsi-ins.ca/english/pdf/Afghanistan_WKOP.pdf, accessed on 20 January, 2010.