Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In this thesis the roles which institutions play in the management of natural resources are
explored. These management strategies and the natural resources were put in the context of
sustainable agroecosystems and the components were looked at from a systems perspective.
The study has the structure of an embedded multiple case design and conducted through
participatory methods: semi-structured interviews, transect walks and focus groups. The results
were analyzed using theories on resource governance and management, institutions,
agroecosystems sustainability and agroecological systems. Several institutions were identified as
playing a more or less important role: family; the law; national, parastatal and government
organizations and the informal economy. The most frequently mentioned and discussed natural
resources and resource systems were trees, the wetlands, agricultural land, pasture and soil. The
study concludes that there is a lack of local natural resource management institutions which
connects to the human capital and the absence of facilitation to support such capital in the
management of natural resources.