Natural resource management is the practice of managing natural resources such as water, forestry, wildlife, fishing, and mineral sectors, with emphasis on the impact of management practices on environmental sustainability, economic viability, sustainable peace, and respect for traditional values of resource communities.

The importance of natural resource management hinges on the fundamental roles these resources play not only for national economies but also for the majority of the rural poor who rely on these resources for most of their livelihood. Natural resources and their management help fulfill needs such as food, income, medicine, and maintenance of religious and cultural [Page 1116]identity. However, while the almost total reliance of the poor on natural resources for their livelihoods should, in principle, provide them with a strong incentive for ...