Participatory, Learning and Action (PLA) Resource Guide for Practitioners : to build, enhance and promote resource conservation and management

Abstract

PLA Resource Guide draft_10.29.10To Build, Enhance and Promote Resource Conservation and Management American Samoa Context i Foreword Collaborative management is one of the most effective tools to ensure community participation in resource management. It describes a part- nership among different stakeholders for the management of an area or resources. More managers, researchers, leaders and politicians are realizing that sharing management rights and responsibilities with various stakeholders, particularly the local communities, is the positive way to a long-term conservation and effective management of natural resources. It has been experienced that Participatory, Learning and Action (PLA) approach could assist in assessing a community’s perceptions on management, identifying activities that have impacted the re- sources, issues and threats to the communities and their resources, management needs and recommendations on best management strate- gies for a community. This guide pr