Course: Competing Claims on Natural Resources

Jan 5, 2015 | Wageningen University Centre for Development Innovation, Netherlands
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Competition over land and natural resources is increasingly overstretching the multi-functionality of landscapes, whether it is at local or at global level. With the ambition as enshrined in numerous international conventions and national polices alike to reconcile agricultural development and the wise use of our natural resources, this places enormous pressure on resource managers to broker development outcomes that suit both agendas. It implies rethinking current natural resources management paradigms and applying new analytical frameworks to better understand conflicts, the driving forces behind them and the design of process approaches to manage them.

Course Dates: March 2nd - March 13, 2015

Reconciling agricultural development and biodiversity conservation at the landscape level

Understanding the conflicts

Wageningen University has researched competing claims over natural resources at different landscape levels over the years and developed new analytical insights into land and resource conflicts. This two week course provides you with knowledge, tools and skills to design multiple stakeholder processes in order to deal with conflict, and aim at negotiated outcomes towards positive change. You will apply lessons learnt directly to case studies provided by participants.

Course objectives

The overall aim of the course is to contribute to sustainable resources management by building capacity to manage conflicts over natural resources. Upon completion you will be able to:

  • contextualise and apply analytical frameworks and methodologies to better understand competing claims on natural resources;

  • examine different conflict management approaches and apply them to case studies;

  • practice a broad range of skills to manage conflict and  facilitate informed negotiation processes; and

  • review governance arrangements that could hamper or foster negotiated outcomes.

Target audience

This course is aimed at resource managers, policy-makers, scientists, practitioners, private sector or civil society representatives and mid-career professionals who work in the field of natural resources management. Candidates should meet the following requirements: relevant tertiary education, at least five years of working experience in the NRM sector. Proficiency in English is required.