• Programmes
  
  
• Forests and livelihoods
  
  
• Coastal and marine governance and livelihoods
  
  
• Climate change and disaster risk reduction
  
  
• Civil society and governance
  
  
• Strategy programmes
  • Research
    
    
  • Action Research and Learning
    
    
  • Communication
    
    
  • Capacity-building
    
    
  • Internal governance and operational systems

STRATEGY PROGRAMMES

Research Programme

Programme rationale:

All of CANARI’s work is founded on knowledge developed through testing and analysis to build understanding on issues and potential solutions.  Multidisciplinary research approaches are used, including traditional natural and social science research methods and innovative participatory research approaches.

Programme purpose:

Enhanced knowledge on participatory governance of natural resources so that people will have a better quality of life and natural resources will be conserved.

Programme goal:

To develop and implement research to build understanding of participatory natural resource governance issues, approaches, and results.

Programme objectives:

To build understanding on:

1. how to facilitate and engage in participatory approaches to natural resource governance;
2. how participatory approaches contribute to ecosystem-based management and improve livelihood and conservation benefits and can equitably address the sometimes competing demands of conservation and livelihoods, particularly of the most disadvantaged;
3. strategies for building sustainable and resilient natural resource-based livelihoods;
4. how the traditional knowledge of resource users can best be shared and incorporated in the decision-making about the governance of natural resources;
5. how to effectively communicate to raise awareness and influence policy and practice;
6. how to effectively build capacity of stakeholders, especially civil society and rural communities, in the Caribbean, to participate in natural resource governance and to develop sustainable and resilient livelihoods;
7. how to effectively engage stakeholders in building resilience to climate change and other risks;
8. how to move towards a new approach to economic development in the Caribbean.

Priority programme results 2011-2016:

1. Documented knowledge on tools and methods for facilitating participatory natural resource governance
2. Documented case studies on participatory natural resource governance initiatives and conservation and livelihood impacts
3. Enhanced understanding of effective communication methods to build awareness and influence policy of key target groups

  Recent and current projects:

• Participatory Forest Management: Improving policy and institutional capacity for development: Testing communication products
• Case studies in community forestry initiatives in the Caribbean
• Environmental mainstreaming in the British Virgin Islands
• Developing a civil society agenda for climate change in Saint Lucia
• Building civil society capacity for conservation in the Caribbean UK Overseas Territories
• CLME case study of the shrimp and groundfish fishery of the Guianas-Brazil Shelf
• Stakeholder identification and analysis of the large pelagic and flyingfish fisheries in the Wider Caribbean
• Developing a civil society agenda for climate change in Tobago
• Green Economy Project in the Anguilla
• Training of fisherfolk in EAF and climate change

Research questions addressed:

• Which communication products are effective for dissemination of messages on forest management in the Caribbean ?
• What are the elements of a community forest management model that contribute to improved livelihoods in the region?
• What actions must be taken to mainstream environmental issues into decision making ?
• What are the priority climate change adaptation issues and actions and what role can civil society play in climate change adaptation policy development and actions on the ground in?
• What capacities are needed by fisherfolk in the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations to engage in ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAF) and climate change adaptation? 
• How is climate change impacting on fisheries and fishing livelihoods in the Caribbean and what are the potential adaptation measures?
• Which pathways are most effective in bringing about policy change in forest management from the bottom up?
• What role can civil society play in national climate change adaptation policy development and actions on the ground?