Attributes of Natural Resource Management (NRM)

Historical Perspective

Functional Perspective

Futuristic Perspective

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) regarding NRM

Was given a high importance.

Apart from TEK, certain new interventions have been made for conservation of natural resources. However, TEK has started losing its prime role in the management of natural resources across various regions.

TEK is in jeopardy, thus needs

to be given a high priority for proper documentation.

Conservation and Management of Natural Resources

The resources were used for fulfilling the basic needs on a sustainable basis.

Resource exploitation is high and as a result, resources are depleting very fast.

Need to rethink from the perspective of growing population on the one hand, and the declining resources on the other.

Dependence on Natural Resources

Sustainable utilization for only meeting the basic requirements.

Increased for various needs without thinking needs of the future generation.

Depends on the availability of various ecological resources

Supply and Demand for Natural Resources

It was on a sustainable basis.

Not in an equilibrium.

Lesser chances of a sustainable ecological resource flow, if the current trend were to continue.

Innovativeness in Resource conservation

Through the process of trial and error with TEK as the main basis.

Various innovations have been made, but a majority of them are not being practiced.

There is a need for a proper evaluation of all the innovations made so far with appropriate strategies have to be devised for resource utilization and conservation for future generations.

Role of institutions in resource management

Community participation

Institutions have been developed without a proper thought given to most of the cases.

Has to play a major role within an integrated framework.

Policy inventions in resource utilization

Various traditional ecological methods introduced for resource utilization.

The policy has become the main tool for resource utilization.

Existing policies need to be revisited for proper implementation.