Linking Ecosystems, Governance, and Poverty

Ecosystem management, democratic governance, and poverty reduction are each essential elements of sustainable economic growth. Moreover, these elements are inextricably linked. More than 1.3 billion people depend on fisheries, forests, and agriculture for employment—close to half of all jobs worldwide (FAO 2004:169-174). This dependence of livelihoods on natural systems is nowhere more important than among the rural poor (MA 2005:7, 48). (See Table 1.1.) In Africa, more than seven in ten poor people live in rural regions, with most engaged in resource-dependent activities, such as small-scale farming, livestock production, fishing, hunting, artisanal mining, and logging (IFAD 2001:15). This small-scale production accounts for a significant percentage of the GDP of many African nations (Kura et al. 2004:36-39; IFPRI 2004:2).

Making wise choices about the use of natural resources and the distribution of environmental benefits and costs is central to maximizing the contribution that a nation’s resource endowment makes to social and economic development. Many of the poorest regions of the world are, however, also the least democratic. That means much of their resource wealth is typically diverted from the public good through corruption, mismanagement, and political patronage. It is no coincidence that fundamental democratic principles such as transparency, public participation, accountability, and the separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers are often absent in developing countries where poverty is greatest.

Many people in developing countries are thus not only poor, they are voiceless. Dependent directly on natural resources, they have little say in how those resources are used, but suffer the consequences when the decisions are corrupt and the use is destructive. For example, rural peoples’ livelihoods are often in direct conflict with extractive industries such as large-scale fishing, logging, or mining, but they have little say in resolving that conflict. Access to decision-makers—government bureaucrats, lawmakers, or the courts—is typically for the powerful, not the poor.

Rectifying this imbalance means supporting democratic practices. History shows, however, that efforts to promote democratic principles in a vacuum rarely succeed. To take root, they must engage citizens, and they must deliver on matters that are immediate and important to citizens. As the source of livelihoods, the environment is arguably the most important issue that democracy must deliver on in the developing world. Put differently, the environment is not only a powerful tool for promoting democratic reform, but good environmental governance is fundamental to strengthening and consolidating democracy. Democratic institutions, in turn, are an important factor supporting strong economic growth (Kaufmann et al. 1999:18).

This emphasis on good governance and environment is particularly relevant when addressing poverty. The case studies in this report and the experiences of an increasing number of villages and communities in many nations suggest that efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods among the poor are more successful when they simultaneously promote ecosystem stewardship and democratic governance. For that reason, a number of development agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are beginning to focus on this integration of environment and governance.

In spite of increasing interest in this integration, its application to the alleviation of poverty is still new. Success will demand a new openness to go beyond traditional economic development strategies, or at least to add a more deliberate recognition of the linkages among nature, power, and poverty.