Objectives

In the Anthropocene, the age in which we live, natural resources such as land, water and forests are under immense stress; the imperatives to manage them sustainably and equitably are very high. Demographic growth, urban expansion and climate change processes pose several challenges for natural resource management. While the discourse on sustainability gives importance to inter-generational equity, intra-generational equity concerns need to be addressed as well at the policy level. In this background, the objectives of this programme are to familiarise participants with critical policy and institutional issues in natural resource management and governance and approaches to addressing them.

Contents

1. Key concepts in natural resource management and governance
This session will introduce participants to key concepts in natural resource management and governance such as carrying capacity, resilience, vulnerability, adaptation, tragedy of the commons, and property right regimes. State property, private property, common property and open access regimes shall be discussed with appropriate examples.

2. Legal anthropological approaches to property rights
This session will introduce participants to the different bases of rights in natural resources. The concept of legal pluralism shall be introduced. State based notions of rights often co-exist with non-statutory institutions. This can create situations both of conflicts and co-operation over natural resources such as land and water.

3. Management of common property resources
This session will expose participants to the importance of common property resources. Such resources have been important for securing the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, landless households, tenants and sharecroppers. The various pressures on common property resources shall be discussed. Some recent initiatives to restore the commons shall also be presented.

4. Urbanisation and sustainable cities
The expansion of modern cities has often been made possible through the acquisition of village commons such as grazing and pasture lands, ponds, lakes and other water bodies. This session will explore the equity and sustainability dimensions of urbanisation and their consequences for such phenomena as urban flooding.

5. Markets for natural resource allocation
This session will focus on the existence of markets for natural resources such as water. Groundwater markets have existed in India for several decades. The session will explore the equity and sustainability implications of groundwater markets as well as the potential and effects of policies for market creation.

6. Community-based natural resource management: challenges and pitfalls
The evidence of community-based natural resource management institutions has led to several efforts at creating natural resource management organisations. This session will discuss the various factors and drivers of policies for the creation of community-based organisations; the conditions that are known to facilitate their success and effectiveness and approaches – top-down and bottom up - that have been used to create such organisations. The policy challenges of mainstreaming equity and accountability in natural resource management organisations shall be discussed.

7. Social capital in natural resource governance
Social capital plays a key role in shaping individuals’ and communities’ access to natural resources and in improving the accountability of service providers to natural resource users. This session will discuss the concept of social capital and the different types of social capital, namely, binding, bridging and linking. The role of social capital in improving access to natural resources and in vulnerability and disaster risk reduction shall be discussed.

8. Gender Issues in Natural Resource Management
Gender refers to the socially defined characteristics of what it means to be a man or a woman. This session will discussed men’s and women’s differential access to natural resources as well as the gendered dimensions of environmental change and natural resource degradation.

Who should attend?

NGOs working with communities in natural resource management and governance; corporations addressing natural resource
management as part of CSR activities.

Venue & Duration

The programme is scheduled during January 28-29, 2027 on a residential basis at MDI Campus, Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali, Gurugram. Accommodation for participants would be available at MDI Campus from the noon of January 27, 2027, to the forenoon of January 30, 2027.

Registration & Fees

Participants should be nominated by their organizations. The enclosed nomination form should be completed and returned with all the details. The fee of the program is Rs. 30,000/- (Rupees Thirty Thousand only) per participant which includes a professional fee and all charges for boarding, lodging and supply of course materials during the programme. GST as applicable will be charged extra in addition to the programme fee. Payment should be made by Cheque/NEFT/RTGS. 

Discount Policy
With a view to our long-term relationship with your esteemed organization, we are pleased to introduce the discount policy in this programme. The discount will be observed in the following conditions: (discount is applicable in NEPAL also) 
• 10% Discount against 3-5 nominations 
• 20% Discount against more than 5 nominations 

Important Dates

The last date for receipt of nominations is January 14, 2027. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is January 15, 2027. Any withdrawal received after this date will be subject to deduction as per the Institute’s rules. However, substitution may be permitted. Nominating organizations are advised to await confirmation of acceptance of nominations(s) before sending the participants to the programme venue. 

For enquiry, please contact at [email protected] or +91-124-4560008.