COMMUNITY- BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS IN RUWANGWE WARD, NYANGA DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

This research examined the effectiveness of community-based institutions in achieving sustainable natural resource management. Research was conducted in Ruwangwe Ward, Nyanga District, in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province. A questionnaire survey and focus group discussions were used as complementary methods. Both the survey and focus group discussions indicated that rising population pressure on a diminishing land resource base was causing environmental degradation, resource depletion and resource scarcity in the ward. Research results also revealed intra-community, inter-community and community-state resource conflicts deriving partly from state interference in local level natural resource management and also from rising household and community level resource scarcity. Although research results showed the existence of community-based natural resource management institutions, these are largely weak and therefore ineffective. The major reasons being state intervention in local level natural resource management, unclear or non-existent institutional rules, and absence of monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.. For local level institutions to be effective, the state must