Socio-economics Capacity Building

Project Abstract:
Activities to be undertaken in this project are designed to develop the capacity of natural resource practitioners to access and use socio economics information. One of the major activities under this project is organizing a Social Science in Natural Resource Management Workshop (SSNRM Workshop). The Social Science in Natural Resources curriculum developed during the current fiscal year will be used to plan the workshop agenda. A planning committee to decide on the agenda of the SSNRM workshop will be constituted. Socio economic topics covered in the workshop could include: public involvement and participatory research; assessing public attitudes and preferences; trade off analysis; use of social, economic, and cultural indicators; ecosystem services; non timber valuation; NTFPs; community economic development; traditional ecological knowledge; and conservation of cultural heritage resources. Two meetings of the Socio economics Working Group are planned during the year. The Working Group, made up of 18 members from diverse backgrounds, all leaders in the use or production of social science knowledge, is expected to be a pivotal group central to building socio economics capacity in the province. The second meeting of the Working Group will be held in conjunction with the SSNRM Workshop. Another activity under this project is partnering the Ministry of Community Services in organizing a workshop and extension programming on local leadership strategies for community transition and resiliency in forest dependent communities. Other activities include outreach and peer assistance in the use of social science in natural resources, including outreach to the coastal Ecosystem Based Management (EBM working group); and continuing the current year’s work of establishing and updating the online directory of social science technical advisors and experts.

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.