European Tropical Forest Research Network

Participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity (PAMEB)

Internet workshop 7 - 25 January 2002, and policy seminar 21 May 2002
convened by the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford

Summary of Day 13 part II, 22th January 2002

Theme 6 is dedicated to exploring the enabling factors supporting participatory biodiversity assessment. We mean here to discuss the effects policies, institutions, and means of communication have on either facilitating or constraining the development, implementation and recognition of the results of participatory approaches to biodiversity assessment.

Two introductory papers for Theme 6 have been submitted. It is interesting that the paper by Kate Shreckenberg closely mirrors the issues raised by participants today, as she discusses communication, capacity building, shared language, and cost sharing under, as key enabling factors. Madhav Gadgil complements Kate where he discusses the importance of motivation, strong and honest relationships between stakeholders, democracy and education as key issues.

Please refer to two new case studies for this theme:

1. A case study from Virinder Sharma (Environment Adviser, DFID, British High Commission, New Delhi) on Capacity building of community organisations for biodiversity monitoring and management in Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalayas, India.
2. A Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) report prepared for the 4-8 February 2002 meeting of the CBD Working Group on Article 8j. This document was written to provide information relevant to the implementation of tasks concerning participatory mechanisms for indigenous and local communities, and includes some information on consent procedures.

CIFOR has publishing their field methods as a hard copy document. The document also can be downloaded as pdf, please see under theme 2 and 3.