Involving local communities in natural resource management : xilingol biosphere reserve

Abstract

This study is to assess natural resource management practices in Xilingol Biosphere Reserve (XBR) located in northern China in their institutional contexts. Institutions including legislation, regulations and administrative structures, responsibilities associated with land and resource rights, decision making powers and processes, and community participation, and the interactions between these institutions have exerted great impacts on how natural resources are used and managed in XBR. Local people have experienced great socioeconomic losses accompanied with the establishment of XBR. However, they have not been provided with adequate compensation for their lost benefits. This gave rise to the conflict between local people and XBR. The findings indicate that partnerships prove to be an inevitable trend for improving the reserve management and facilitating the resolution of a series of issues facing XBR.