Author Fröde A. & and Masara C.

Year of publication 2007

The process of continuous observation of the environment and adaptation of action is at the core of ecological monitoring which is the issue of this manual. Ecological monitoring is not meant to limit the use of natural resources and to limit options for development but is a way of wise long-term development planning. It is a pre-requisite for adaptive natural resource and ecosystem management. Ecological monitoring approaches can range from purely scientific to very participatory ways of set up of implementation. We have chosen a participatory community-based approach, where the monitoring activities are carried out by the resource users themselves. It emanates from their informal observations of the environment, acknowledges their expertise on environmental trends in their villages and critical issues and uses their traditional ecological knowledge. Community-base monitoring can be carried out in many different settings and even with very restricted funds. The methodology described in this manual was developed in the context of the work of SAFIRE (Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources), a non-governmental organisation which implements benefit-driven natural resource management in rural areas of Zimbabwe and Zambia.