ABSTRACT
Natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in particular have become increasingly significant to both international and national communities over the last two decades. The paramount question is how to develop sustainable management approaches. For decades this question was addressed by many people who thought only in terms of two alternatives: markets or centralised government (Taylor 1997). More recently a third alternative has been offered by others (for example, Baland & Platteau 1996; Poffenberger & McGean 1996) who have argued the role of community in the management of natural resources.
