ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a methodological framework that has been used to identify, monitor and evaluate sustainability indicators for three study regions in the Kalahari rangelands of Botswana. Discussion focuses on the transferability of the approach and the practical issues identified as critical in scaling up from local-scale participatory development and indicator monitoring to national-scale support for community-based approaches. The literature on sustainability indicators falls into two broad methodological paradigms: one that is expert-led and top-down and one that is community-based and bottom-up. The methodological approach starts with household-scale livelihood analyses in which livelihood constraints and opportunities are identified and discussed. The approach was based on a sustainable livelihoods analysis (SLA) that involved semi-structured interviews to examine social, financial, physical, human and natural capital assets used by households to ensure livelihood security. The iterative nature of the community-science dialogue is central to establishing a more diversified understanding that combines scientific and local knowledge.
