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Al-Busaidi, Mohammed (2012) The struggle between nature and development: Linking local knowledge with sustainable natural resources management in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region, Oman. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/3906/ Copyright and moral rights for this thesis are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Glasgow Theses Service http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] Collage of Science & Engineering The Struggle between Nature and Development: Linking Local Knowledge with Sustainable Natural Resources Management in AL-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region, Oman Mohammed Al-Busaidi Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of Glasgow College of Science and Engineering School of Geographical and Earth Sciences November 2012 Abstract. Increasing awareness about the necessity for natural resources protection represents worldwide recognition of its importance as an important tool in mainstream development. This growing recognition is accompanied by a growing awareness about the importance of activating natural resource management systems to achieve greater sustainability. At present, experiences and studies in this field show the need for the participation of all stakeholders in the processes of decision making in natural resource management. There is also a need to initiate natural resource governance that ensures effective management to benefit sustainable development, the later representing a key foundation for environmental and natural resources management. Moreover, investigations of the prospects of applying traditional knowledge systems and their integration with Western scientific knowledge produces numerous calls to revisit this knowledge where it has proven useful in environmental and natural resources management, both in theory and practice. In this spirit, this thesis investigates the effectiveness of the natural resources management system in Oman using Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region (AAR) as a case study, and linking this management system with the local people’s practices, which rely on their traditional environmental knowledge. Based on theories and concepts of natural resource management and sustainability, multiple research methods were used to explore the strengths and weaknesses in the system of natural resources management in the region, to analyze the advantages of traditional practices and knowledge systems, and thus, to deepen the understanding of the continuous struggle between nature and development. Results indicated that although Oman is rich in environmental policies, represented by laws and legislation that theoretically govern protection of the environment, the transformation of these policies into I practice is troubled by practical obstacles. On the natural side, there are volatile climatic conditions, and on the human side, there is inefficiency of planning and a lack of means and tools to implement sustainable natural resources management programmes. Both obstacles expose environmental sustainability to uncertainty. However, as this research points out, traditional environmental knowledge and management practices systems used by local people in the AAR are characterized by useful interpretations of environmental dynamics to guide the direction of resource utilisation and management, and to address any uncertainty on the course toward sustainability. II Table of contents Table of contents …………………………………………………………………… III List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………….. VI List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………. IX List of Boxes ………………………………………………………………………… XI List of abbreviations/acronyms ……………………………………………..………. XII Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………….………. XIV Declaration original work ……………………………………………...…….……… XVI Chapter 1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………. 1 1.1 The research context: sustainable natural resources management, traditional knowledge and sustainable development ………….....................……………..……. 1 1.2 Research objectives ………………………………………………………...…… 6 1.3 research questions ……………………………………………………………….. 10 1.4 Theoretical and analytical framework ……………………………………...…… 11 1.5 Organisation of the thesis …………………………………………...…………... 13 Chapter 2 Literature review: Theoretical Perspectives …….....………..…………… 16 2.1 Natural resource management …………………………......…………...…..…… 16 2.1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………….. 16 2.1.2 The importance of natural resources and the need for sustainable management …………………………………………………………………. 17 2.1.3 Approaches to natural resource management …………………………....….. 20 2.1.4 The future of natural resources management ………………….……....……. 29 2.1.5 How to ensure an efficient and sustainable natural resource management? ... 31 2.2 Indigenous Knowledge: the vast space ……………….………………………... 35 2.2.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………. 35 2.2.2 Indigenous knowledge: the disputed definition …………………………….. 36 2.2.3 The importance of Indigenous Knowledge for sustainable development … 44 2.2.4 Utilizing Indigenous Knowledge in Natural Resources Management ……. 49 2.2.5 Problems and challenges for IK …………………………………………….. 55 2.3 Sustainable development in mountain areas ….………………………………... 58 2.3.1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 58 2.3.2 Sustainable development: the theory and practice …………………………... 59 2.3.3 Sustainable development in mountain regions ………….…………………. 61 2.4 Summary.......………………………………………………………………… 67 Chapter 3 Study area ………………………………………………………………. 70 3.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………… 70 3.2 General location of AAR ………………………………………………………... 72 3.3 Geographical characteristics of the AAR ……………………………………….. 73 3.4 Historical background of the AAR ……………………………………………… 78 3.5 Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the AAR …………………. 79 3.6 Administration of the AAR …………………………………………………… 85 3.7 Natural resources in AAM (Surface land resources) ……………………………. 89 3.7.1 Water resources …………………………………………………………. 89 3.7.2 Pastoral resources ……………………………………………………….. 91 III 3.7.3 Agricultural land resources ………………………………………………... 95 3.8 Land ownership/tenure in AAR …………………………………………………. 96 3.7 Development, rural development and the environment in AAR ……………… 98 Chapter 4 Methodology ……………………………………………………………. 105 4.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………… 105 4.2 Data collection methods ………………………………………………………… 106 4.2.1 Secondary data gathering (Official documentary sources) ……........... 106 4.2.2 Primary data gathering (Fieldwork activities) …………………........... 110 4.2.2.1 Structured open-ended interviews with officials …………………... 113 4.2.2.2 Open-ended interviews with the local people ……………………… 116 4.2.2.3 Questionnaire survey of government officials ……………………... 118 4.2.2.4 Questionnaire survey of the local people ………………………….. 118 4.2.2.5 Focus groups involving local people .................................... ……… 120 4.3 Data analysis methods …………………………………………………………... 127 4.3.1 Content analysis of official documents ……………………………….. 127 4.3.2 Quantitative analysis of questionnaires ……………………………….. 128 4.3.3 Transcription analysis of interviews and focus group discussions ….... 129 4.4 Summary.......………………………...………………………………………….. 132 Chapter 5 Status of and pressures on natural resources in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar Region .................................………………………………………………………… 133 5.1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………….. 133 5.2 The environmental importance of natural resources in the AAR. ……………… 133 5.3 Socio-economic Importance of natural resources in the AAR …………….…… 148 5.4 Factors threatening NR in the AAR (vulnerability). ……………………………. 166 5.4.1 Pressures and threats on NR from development activities ……………. 167 5.4.2 Impact of climate change on NR in the AAR …………………….….. 171 5.4.3 The negative impact of various actors in NR in the AAR ……………. 175 5.4.4 Malpractices: reasons for pressures and threats on NR in the AAR ..… 181 5.4 Summary.......………………………………………………………………… 187 Chapter 6 Government practices and effectiveness in NRM in the AAR ................... 191 6.1 Introduction. ………………………………………………………..…………… 191 6.2 The government officials’ responses regarding management plan and objectives………………………………………………………………………… 192 6.3 The government official responses regarding management inputs …………….. 200 6.4 Perspectives of government officials and locals regarding management outputs: issues water resources. ……………………………………….…......................... 217 6.5 Perspectives of government officials and locals regarding the management outputs of plant and pasture resources …………………………………………... 222 6.6 Perspectives of government officials and locals regarding the management outputs of agricultural resources. ………………………………………………... 225 6.7 Summary.......………………………………………………………….................. 229 Chapter 7 Traditional environmental knowledge and natural resources management practices in the AAR: ………………………………………………………..……… 231 6.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 231 7.2 Natural resources management and traditional environmental knowledge: water resources………………………………………………………………………… 232 IV 7.2.1 The systems of water harvesting: spatial and temporal pattern of
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