Summary

The collaborative orco-management of natural resources - whether between states and local communities or amongst and within communities themselves - is a process of collective understanding and actions to bring about negotiated agreements on roles, rights and responsibilities for decentralized governance of natural resources. At heart, co-management is about sharing power, one of the most difficult but rewarding experiences in personal and social life.The book is designed for professionals and people involved in practical co-management processes, and distils a wealth of experience and innovative approacheslearned by doing. It begins by offering a variety of vistas, from historical analyses to a clear grasp of key concepts. Illustrated in detail is the understanding accumulated in recent decades on starting points for co-management, conditions and methods for successful negotiations, ideas to manage conflicts and types of agreements and co-management institutions emerging from the negotiation tables. Simple tools, such as checklists distilled from different situations and contexts, are offered throughout. Examples and insights from experience highlight the importance of participatory democracy - the enabling contexts where 'sharing power is ultimately possible and successful.Published with IIED and IUCN.