Publication

This paper discusses the impact of devolution policies on local livelihoods and the extent to which communities can make their own management decisions. It argues that 'scientific management' is often used to justify continued central control over valuable resources, when it is really about controlling profitable opportunities for individuals who are not entitled to them. It draws on the findings of two studies on devolution and Natural Resources Management (NMR) in eleven countries and questions whether a balance has been achieved between local and 'wider' interests and objectives.