Resources

An RRA was conducted by a four person team in Freetown, Sierra Leonne and surrounding villages. Previously a statistical survey had been conducted by a different group of researchers in the same area. As well as the main academic objective of comparing the results of an RRA with a statistical survey, the practical objective was to provide an information for an FAO fuelwood project. A variety of PRA methods were used: key informant interviews, mapping, trading flow diagrams and preference pair ranking (of tree species). The results of the study were presented in the form of flow diagrams representing the volume of fuelwood traded and the major participants. The RRA results are compared with the preliminary results of the statical survey (278 questions). There were many similar findings but also some important differences. It is concluded that "RRA is a far more appropriate and accurate way to collect socio-ecological information for social forestry projects."

Based on training excercises carried out in four different countries and brought together in Thailand, at Khon Kaen, the aim was to discover if there were common patterns in wood use throughout the region, and to examine implications for sustainability and policy. While the focus is singly on the "problem" of wood use for energy, generalisations are made across country, and the methods used are entirely within the arena of RRA (predominantly informal interviewing), this is a comprehensive study of the energy situation in these countries. For each country, a brief background is given to the area and to previous studies and commercial implications of energy use are examined including supply, transportation and processing. The emphasis is on the movement of wood, particularly rural - urban flows, in both wood and charcoal forms. There is little emphasis on methods used.

PRA techniques were used over a three day period in a predominantly extractive manner in order to discuss the issue of land use around Laggan, with emphasis on forestry. The community has a history of interest in forestry, based on the potential purchase by the community of an area of forestry commision land. A variety of techniques were used to determine changes in employment and population over time as well as seasonal variations in income and activity. Through village meetings and individual interviews, the details of forest use, products and ownership were examined. Finally a voting excercise was carried out which emphasised the perceived benefits of the forest to the community.

This paper discusses the nature of local people's knowledge and the important role it can play in fostering a participatory development process in rural areas. The paper draws its case material from two tree planting and woodland manangement projects in Zimbabwe (Shurugwi Agroforestry Project and Zvishavane-Chivi indigenous woodland management project). First, the conceptual framework is analysed in which rural people's knowledge has been placed, in particular by people from other cultures. The second part of the paper assesses how official knowledge has been promulgated among rural people in Zimbabwe by way of historical analysis of forestry extension practices. Thirdly attention is given to how knowledge is structured at the local level. Finally two projects are examined which attempt to bridge the gap between official and rural people's knowledge. Although some RRA methods are employed, such as ranking tree species, the methodology and sources of information are not made clear. (Based on the authors' summary)

This paper focuses first on a few general issues: 1) how sketch mapping can be used in rural resource management projects; 2) the process of sketch mapping and; 3) the types of maps which may be useful. It is asserted that it is important to get away from the traditional view of accuracy as equivalent to locational correctness, accuracy needs to be defined in terms of purpose. "Hypothetical" maps might be employed to present a range of possible land uses which would form the basis for discussion. The second section presents two case studies where sketch mapping has been used as a diagnostic tool for studying indigenous forest management systems. 1) In Harayana, India, several types of participatory mapping were used; local geography, local land use patterns, resource distribution and resource condition. 2) A different mapping technique was used in the mountainous Mardi Khola area of Nepal; a sample of transects indicating types of land use were the main basis for discussion. The transect maps provided a generalised picture from which to derive hypotheses for further research.

The four sections of the report cover the importance of research for community forestry in India, specifically using PRA. A background is provided to forest management in India at the macroscale, and to increasing levels of participation. The steps to be undertaken in preparing for community forestry research are highlighted, emphasising secondary sources and the approach of the research team, and details of a rapid appraisal for community forest management are given. Issues identified as important are community characteristics, social and institutional structures, vegetative change, and forest product flows and economics. This breadth of information is considered necessary to document both current day situations and historical changes in the community and its forest resources. Community perceptions and values placed on the forest as well as levels of forest product use should be examined. Information on forest productivity levels and sustainability should also be collected. Finally, the way in which this new-found learning can be analysed, utilised and communicated is discussed. It is also important to involve all levels of forest department staff if forest management is to become participatory.