Landscape Functions and People: Applying Strategic Planning Approaches for Good Natural Resource Governance

Managers and planners concerned with natural resources need to take into account larger scale developments and trends such as decentralization and market developments (for example tourism), and adapt and develop practices accordingly.

Community (or site-based) planning approaches, however successful, can not readily cope with environmental and socio-economic issues and opportunities beyond the community’s immediate sphere of influence. This has highlighted the need for landscape-level approaches through which potentially conflicting resource functions can be addressed.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which most countries have now ratified, calls on governments to implement an ecosystem approach in planning for natural resource management. This approach is guided by a set of principles for best practice that requires inter-sectoral coordination and decision-making at different levels – including at the landscape level, and through a multistakeholder process.

The practical implementation of landscape-level approaches involves using iterative processes adapted for specific, local contexts.

Wageningen International and RECOFTC are delighted to present an international, open-subscription training course on Landscape Functions and People. The course will focus on landscape issues and the basic principles of landscape-level planning in the South and Southeast Asian context.