ABSTRACT
Community biodiversity management (CBM) is a methodology for promoting conservation and the sustainable utilization of biodiversity at local level, with an emphasis on agrobiodiversity or plant genetic resources. CBM distinguishes itself from other strategies that target in situ conservation, or on-farm management, by its focus on increasing the decision-making power of communities and securing access to and control over their biological and genetic resources for sustainable livelihood management. The CBM methodology integrates local knowledge and practices and is driven by local social systems, local rules and institutions (Sthapit et al., 2006). In the current chapter, we provide definitions for terms commonly associated with CBM, to establish a common vocabulary. We then look at CBM and the components or steps that form the basis of its implementation, based on experiences in Nepal. However, our main intention, in this general introductory chapter, is to focus on the methodology, rather than describe the processes that result in community biodiversity management.
