Landscape Functions and People

Training course on strategic planning approaches for natural resource management

Community (or site-based) planning approaches, however successful, can not readily cope with environmental and socioeconomic issues and opportunities beyond the community's immediate sphere of influence. However, top-down approaches to natural resource governance are often unable to respond effectively to local needs and developments.

A landscape approach, on the other hand, links grassroots initiatives to broader goals for ecosystems in a region or a nation. This method of planning integrates participatory approaches with top-down planning for larger areas. Governments and development workers are increasingly using the landscape approach to simultaneously address local, regional, and national needs and objectives.

Aims and Objectives

This course familiarizes participants with current practices in landscape approaches to natural resource governance. Using case studies and examples from participants' own experiences, the training develops a set of practical tools and techniques for using such methods in real-world projects.

This course will enable you to:

• Understand the context, principles, and relevance of landscape approaches to natural resource governance
• Use a variety of tools and techniques to develop and facilitate landscape-level strategic planning
• Practice applying these approaches to real-life situations
• Access a Web-based learning platform to help you apply your individual action plan to your work situation
   

Who Should Attend?

Planners, managers, and administrators from decentralized government agencies; project and nongovernment organization staff; technical natural resource experts; and academics and researchers - especially those involved with natural resource management

Course Contents

• Pre-course warm-up session about individual landscape experiences on CD-ROM
• Introduction to concepts of landscape-level planning and approaches
• Discussion and exercises on the design and facilitation of landscape-level planning processes
• Field practice in a Thai forest
• Discussion and exercises on crafting arrangements for implementation and monitoring