CBNRM Net
The Community-Based Natural Resource Management Network
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Terminology, Background
Introduction
This Page contains background information on the Category Terminology, and its specialized Groups CBNRM, Knowledge management terms, CBNRM, Structural terms, and CBNRM, Processual terms. See also Category Acronyms and abbreviations.
Content
Introduction
CBNRM is an evolving field, its practitioners are separated by means of various barriers, and it is a field at the crossroads of several intellectual, scientific and practical approaches and pursuits to managing local natural resources in developing and transition economies. As a highly eclectic pursuit, it follows that CBNRM terminology to a large extent is borrowed, and that people and groups are prone to using different terms that are more or less overlapping. CBNRM Net aims to present this evolving terminology, and contribute to arrive at consistency in terms and usage, especially across regions and languages. Thus, the definitions given are not cast in stone, and comments and suggestions are welcome.
The intention is to reach a certain degree of coherence in the case of key terms. At the same time, as several terms are borrowed from other intellectual and developmental contexts, endeavors, and pursuits we are, in several instances, perhaps best served by definitions that are open and flexible. This balancing approach to defining key terms supports a basic principle behind CBNRM Net, namely to create an open forum or space for dialogue between people engaged in very different aspects of CBNRM, using and producing the experiences, approaches and knowledge that, taken together, constitutes the broad CBNRM tapestry of knowledge that engages the global CBNRM community of practice.
CBNRM is closely associated with English, and English is to a large extent the lingua franca of CBNRM. CBNRM terms are, however, being developed in a growing number of other languages. Among the former colonial languages, perhaps the best examples are French in Africa, Portuguese in Africa, and Spanish in Latin America. Other languages, including specifically European languages as well as larger languages elsewhere of regional importance, including Arabic, Basarwa, Chinese, and Hindi, are gradually developing their own terms, including adapted versions of terms in other languages.
Languages reflect and embody - as well as impact - the special cultural, historical and intellectual traditions that these languages are embedded in. The relevant CBNRM terminology in any one language is often very difficult to translate into another language, and as a result such translation is often an exercise in interpretation and approximation (see Category Dictionaries). There are useful on-line tools that translate texts between a number of languages (see Page Help).
Realizing this, this Category deals with the issue of terminology and languages in the following way: Terms in French, Portuguese and Spanish (and other languages as the need arise) will be included. Added notes will try to make clear the relationship with one or more relevant English terms. Likewise, these English terms will include notes on the relationship with one or more relevant terms in other languages.
For each term, additional information given may include geographic focus, comments, and sources.
CBNRM core terms
Among these terms that are used development work, some terms are identified that have specific usage and/or specific function in connection with CBNRM. Given the open-ended agenda of CBNRM it is not a straightforward task to determine which terms to include. Taken together, the terms included represent a broad and inclusive view. The terms are listed in three sets. The terms included are likely to change over time, in reflection of the evolution of the subject of CBNRM itself.
For each term it is noted to which class they belong. For each term, additional information given may include geographic focus, comments, and sources. Terms enclosed in angle quotation marks (« ») are included and discussed elsewhere on this page. Definitions aim to cover the essence of each term, and include elements that are acceptable to everybody. In the case of commonly used terms, and/or terms with accepted content, sources are not provided. In the case of terms that are less common, have a restricted usage, and/or may be contested, sources are provided. Where sources are provided, they are intended to be indicative of usage only, and should not be understood as the only source available on a particular term.
The three core sets of CBNRM terms are: (1) Knowledge management terms, (2) Structural terms, and (3) Processual terms. The sets are not clearly demarcated from each other. This is especially so in the case of structural and processual terms, and some terms are available in both these sets, albeit with partly different meanings. The core sets of CBNRM terms are organized in these Groups:
A. Group CBNRM, Knowledge management terms
All terms included are part of the CBNRM knowledge management and knowledge sharing structure that is developed for CBNRM Net. Some of the terms exist already, and are used here more or less with the same meaning, but most were made and defined specifically for this purpose.
B. Group CBNRM, Structural terms
[to be added]
C. Group CBNRM, Processual terms
The Group contains terms that are used within the area of CBNRM, broadly understood. Terms that have a different origin, intellectually and otherwise, are also included. Thus, the approach taken here is eclectic. The purpose is to show the breadth of the approaches used - and, accordingly, of the experiences gained - in connection with practical work on the management of natural resources, as well as the analytical insights that this work leads to.