Analytical projects on innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation that promote improved human livelihoods, capacity-building, and information exchange. Current projects include: capacity strengthening for forest management decision-making in Central Africa; finding ways to mitigate the impact of armed conflict on African biodiversity; and Transboundary Natural Resource Management. Past projects include: improving collaboration among different sectors; analysing environmental behaviours; strengthening capacity; developing frameworks for consultative processes and policy reform; addressing the impacts of global climate change on sub-Saharan Africa; enhancing understanding of natural resource sustainable use; developing sustainable trade practices in wildlife medicinals.

An academic journal dealing with the preservation of wildlife and the conservation or wise use of biological and allied natural resources. It is concerned with plants and animals and their habitats in a changing and increasingly man-dominated biosphere - in fresh and salt waters as well as on land and in the atmosphere. Biological Conservation publishes field studies, analytical and modelling studies and review articles. Includes abstracts of articles from current year; full texts are available to subscribers.

The Institute for Development Policy and Management (University of Manchester, UK) publishes documents on management and development in developing and transitional economies, including a series of working papers "Community Conservation in Africa", available online in PDF or MS Word format.

The IUCN SSC Sustainable Use Specialist Group (SUSG) comprises 17 decentralized networks of Regional SUSGs who analyze and compare local use systems through case studies, regional reviews, workshops, and symposiums. The aim of the SUSG is to: improve the understanding of the social and biological factors that enhance the sustainability of uses of wild living resources; promote that understanding to IUCN's members, decision-makers, and others; and assist IUCN members, partner organizations, and governments in the application of that understanding. Resources available on the web site include briefing papers for decision-makers, case studies and technical reports on sustainable use issues.

The Journal addresses legal and political issues concerning the human race's interrelationship with and management of wildlife species, their habitats, and the biosphere. This includes analysis of the efficacy of international and regional wildlife treaty regimes in conserving species (as well as national legislation and regulations enacted to implement such regimes), the impact of judicial decisions at both the national and international level, and the interface of legal and political institutions with other sectors in society that have a substantive impact on the management and conservation of species and ecosystems. The site includes the full text of some articles, with abstracts for others.

Paper by Martin Adams, Sipho Sibanda and Stephen Turner. February 1999. The paper reviews land tenure reform on communal land against the background of the repossession of private land occupied by white settlers. The purpose and scope of the proposed tenure reform in the former homelands of South Africa are described, as well as the attempts by South Africa’s neighbours to resolve tenure problems in the Communal Areas.

A case study of how botanic gardens can support forest conservation, and approaches to long-term financing for conservation centres in Africa. Limbe Botanic Garden is used to demonstrate the cycle of neglect and rehabilitation that has affected many botanic gardens in Africa, and highlight the role they can play in supporting conservation. A strategy is proposed to ensure their future survival and to increase their contribution to the conservation of remaining African rainforests.

Paper by Steve Rothert of the International Rivers Network, discussing government plans to construct a pipeline from the Okavango River to supply water to the central area of Namibia. The report says that by augmenting water demand management efforts, expanding artificial aquifer recharge and "water banking" techniques, and by continuing to tap abandoned mines, the central area could meet growing demand and emergency supply needs for less than two-thirds the cost of Okavango River water. The report concludes that by incorporating these alternative strategies, the government of Namibia can meet future water needs at reduced cost and time, while sparing the Okavango Delta: a win-win solution.

This paper, written by Brian Jones in 1998, examines the development and implementation of a policy to promote the sustainable management of wildlife and wild habitats by rural communities occupying communal land in Namibia. The policy on community-based natural resource management resulted in legislation, which enables local communities to form wildlife and tourism management institutions called "conservancies". The paper examines the potential for conservancies to serve as institutional models for the management of other resources and argues that further policy development needs to focus on strengthening the links between conservancies and other proposed community-based natural resource management institutions. The paper also concludes that secure and exclusive group land tenure is another important area of policy focus crucial for the success of CBNRM in Namibia.

Natural Resource Perspectives papers present accessible information on current development issues and are sent to a wide audience of policy makers, researchers and people working in the non-governmental sector. Strong emphasis on African issues and themes. Available online in HTML or PDF format. Published by the ODI Rural Policy and Environment Group.

Arid and semi-arid lands cover about one-third of the earth's land surface, but nearly two-thirds of the African continent. The majority of African livestock and possibly 30 million livestock-dependent people reside in these dry zones along with the greatest and most diverse concentrations of large wild mammals in existence. Of the world's 20 poorest countries, many are situated here. Considerations of economic importance, environmental interest, geographical extent and human welfare suggest that African rangelands should be high on the development agenda. They are not. This paper discusses some of the reasons for neglect, and proposes some remedies. Overseas Development Institute paper, 1994.

SD Dimensions is the FAO's information database on sustainable development issues and initiatives. It provides related information on environment, institutions, knowledge and people. covering environmental conventions and agreements, energy and technology
geoinformation, monitoring and assessment, policy and integrated management etc.