Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network (CBNRM Net): About, Overview, Goals and means

CBNRM Net

The Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network

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Goals and means

There are websites that address specific needs for data and knowledge by the global CBNRM community of practice, including research, conflict management, common property resource management and institutions. There are no websites, or networking capabilities more generally, however, that address CBNRM broadly in terms of overall knowledge management and knowledge sharing, that are practice-oriented, that link all CBNRM stakeholders into an adaptive framework of using, producing and managing CBNRM knowledge, and that do this based on an advanced concept of networking, user involvement and user management. CBNRM Net aims to deliver such broad networking capabilities in the area of CBNRM.

As a gateway to and clearinghouse for CBNRM knowledge, CBNRM Net will move from the traditional and limited approach of gathering and disseminating knowledge, to a broader, more inclusive and interactive model that emphasizes production and use of knowledge. A key element, as well as necessary precondition, for this networked approach to CBNRM knowledge management and knowledge sharing is user/producer participation in managing the CBNRM knowledge available on CBNRM Net (see Page Knowledge management and knowledge sharing).

In collaboration with the CBNRM community of practice, CBNRM Net will work to identify, develop and provide such relevant and useful services and tools as to realize these goals for a truly interactive, equity- and knowledge-focused networking capability.

Based on the rationale identified for such a CBNRM networking capability (see Page Rationale; cf. also Group Mission statement), the following goals and accompanying means for CBNRM Net are set forth:

Goals

CBNRM Net will:

Play a key role in implementing the recommendations in recent CBNRM workshops and conferences, including the May 1998 international CBNRM workshop
Contribute to realize the potential inherent in civil society, participatory approaches, local social organization, culture and traditional knowledge in connection with managing local natural resources (this potential can be understood also as a means)
Provide a broad and unified network interface for the use of the global CBNRM community of practice
Function as a gateway to, and clearinghouse for, all manner of CBNRM knowledge
Be a virtual meeting place for the growing CBNRM community of practice, thus making possible easy exchange of CBNRM knowledge, and through this support the increasing amount of practical work
Produce new CBNRM knowledge, and thus move the CBNRM agenda and community of practice forward
Advocate the importance of training and capacity building in CBNRM. Specifically, contribute to determine the role of Internet in training and capacity building in CBNRM, in combination with select CBNRM Net networking tools

Means

To reach these goals, CBNRM Net is:

Building relevant and adaptive knowledge management and knowledge sharing structures and processes, and, through this, contributes to developing a structured and globally networked approach to CBNRM knowledge management and knowledge sharing (see Page Knowledge management and knowledge sharing and Category Terminology)
Supporting and utilizing the potential inherent in civil society, participatory approaches, local social organization, culture and traditional knowledge (this potential can be understood also as a goal)
Recognizing the importance of involving CBNRM stakeholders and CBNRM Net users in managing the website
Giving equal emphasis to the use and production of CBNRM knowledge
Using the World Wide Web and email as primary means of communication, and as the backbone of its networking capabilities. It is important to be aware that they provide great opportunities and potentials, but also represent constraints and limitations that have to be taken into account (see Page Knowledge management and knowledge sharing)
Collaborating with relevant organizations, be they donors, funding agencies, the media, NGOs, or individuals. Such collaboration is essential in order to utilize existing knowledge and insight and to create synergies