ABSTRACT
The management of natural resources, and the supply of those services which enable the resources to be used to their best effect, is a dynamic process in which change is always to be expected, in line with the evolving needs and capabilities of users. Nevertheless, the change that has been witnessed over the past few decades is unique in extent. It is not just the way that the resources are managed that has been altered; it is also the underlying thinking behind the principles of management which has changed. Within this process, the rights of users have altered but so too have their responsibilities. Users are now expected to participate to a far greater extent, to take centre stage in debates about resource management, to exercise their demand (whether individually, through membership organisations or through market mechanisms) and to fulfil their maintenance and management obligations with a minimum of outside assistance.
