Decentralized environmental management and popular participation in Coastal Ghana

Abstract

Decentralization has been promoted by the World Bank as an element of good governance'. In Ghana District Assemblies are being given increasing responsibility, including management of the environment, through recently established District Environmental Management Committees. This paper reviews current environmental conditions and management in three coastal districts and assesses the extent of locallevel participation. It concludes that DEMCs are falling far short of the role government seems to have envisaged they would play in decentralized environmental management, not least because of funding inadequacies. #

Improving environmental management through indigenous peoples’ involvement

“…Such translation seems all the more important given that the recognition and enhancement of traditional knowledge are integral parts of most treaties and policies for indigenous rights and community engagement (Hill et al, 2012;Thornton and Scheer, 2012). Involving indigenous peoples in environmental management can also contribute to the development of a more decentralized, democratic, and community-based form of governance, which is increasingly valued in natural resource management (Gurney et al, 2016;Lane, 2003;Porter and Young, 1998). In this perspective, the integration of environmental management and community engagement can contribute to the conservation of natural ecosystems, respect of indigenous rights, and development of collaborative rather than conflicting relationships with local communities.…”

Enhancing Environmental Quality and Sustainability through Negotiation and Conflict Management: Research into Systems, Dynamics, and Practices

“…In particular, what are the key dimensions fostering participation in public decisions and how do those dimensions interact with EPP conflict management systems, dynamics, and practices? Several North American or West European initiatives have sought to implement environmental conflict management approaches in African, Asian, and South American countries that lack the political, institutional, or legal structures found in advanced democracies or have traditions of centralized, top‐down decision‐making (e.g., Porter and Young () on Ghana, Yasmi () on Indonesia, Zbinden and Lee () on Costa Rica and Idrissou et al. () on several cases in Benin).…”

Awash National Park, Ethiopia: use policy, ethnic conflict and sustainable resources conservation in the context of decentralization

“…The experience of other African countries such as Burkina Faso, Cameron, Guinea, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Zambia, in relation to decentralization and its implications to regional resource management was also negative. In those countries, decentralization failed to result in a successful natural resources conservation system (Oyono, 2002;Onyach-Olla & Porter, 2000;Porter & Youbg, 1998). On the other hand, a promising effect of decentralized management system of national parks was observed at Simen Mountain National Park (Hurni et al, 2008).…”