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This natural capital thematic review seeks to generate new information and
highlight essential issues for the implementation of the Pathways to
Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) project. The review analyses
the endowment framework underlying natural resource management and
drivers of natural resource degradation, including natural processes and
calamities induced by climate change. Additionally, it assesses policy
frameworks that embed human action in the degradation and
management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The
review further attempts to unlock natural capital endowments at the global
level and zooms in on East Africa, West Africa and Central Asia as case
studies.
The reviewed literature includes academic and official reports and online
databases (research papers, journal articles and donor reports). The review
generates knowledge on key drivers underlying natural resource
degradation, livelihood systems and climate change impacts.
The review also provides explanations on the synergistic relationship
between natural resource endowment and development patterns in semiarid
areas. It presents the patterns of development and the constraints
underlying the attainment of sustainable natural resource management.
Finally, it poses key questions that should be considered for further
research in the PRISE project. The following points are emphasised:
• It is necessary to have an understanding of patterns found in ecosystem
services, distribution, tenure rights and gender-biased access to
ecosystem services and natural resources. This also entails a better
understanding of the relationship between equity and access to and
utilisation of ecosystem services, and how the two can contribute to the
alleviation of poverty. The following points are further emphasised:
o Analysis of the importance of ecosystems in the diversification of
livelihoods, associated dynamics and the nature of responses;
o Generation of knowledge on how issues of tenure, especially as an
incentive for natural resource management, and Payment for
Ecosystem Services (PES) in order to inform policy for local-level
adaptation projects.
• There is a need to analyse how existing policies can strike a balance
between attaining sustainable natural resource management and
supporting community livelihoods, including nomadic pastoralism. Another
important issue to address here could relate to how government can
integrate traditional knowledge systems and institutions as viable and
sustainable alternative approaches in sustainable natural resource
management and in the improvement of livelihood systems in semi-arid
ecosystems.
• It is important to analyse the effectiveness of pastoralism in managing
resources in harsh and unpredictable environments (Nori et al., 2008). It is
also vital to analyse how pastoralism can contribute to debates on climate
change adaptation; Tanzanian government policies do not currently
address this. |
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