Managing rangelands: learning from institutional experience in order to promote Bedouin participation in the Badia of Jordan

Abstract

This study investigates institutional experience in managing rangeland in order to promote Bedouin participation in the Badia of Jordan, particularly in the area of the Jordan Badia Research and Development Programme (BRDP). It also investigates the attitudes of livestock owners towards the concept of managing the rangeland and their awareness of the importance of this concept to their life. In addition to secondary data which were available to this study, visits were made to some projects to improve the rangelands productivity and conserve nature. Discussions were held with local communities and personnel responsible. The most significant finding of this study is that the projects and trials of managing rangeland which did not involve local communities in setting objectives and implementing activities through prior consultation and negotiation, faced major difficulties in management and, therefore, in achieving their goals. On the other hand, those projects and trials, based on effective participation from local people including prior negotiation and consultation, had less difficulties in their management and, relatively, achieved their goals. In the light of learning from experience of a number of institutions in managing rangeland, trial demonstrations to integrate livestock owners in the BRDP area are presented in the concluding chapter.