Bioresource Management and Our Common Future

Abstract

Survival of societies largely depends on biological (bio) resources management, which is the responsible use of living resources—plants and animals, and the natural environment that supports these, for both traditional and new applications. Bioresources are of two levels—ecosystems and species. Bioresources’ utility also varies temporally and spatially. In the early times, when population growth was low and customary rules prevailed, bioresources were not under threat. Collective action evolved in the villages to safeguard the land, water, and biological resources for sustainable use. As countries developed, the state became the more powerful steward of all resources. While protected areas in forests and marine sanctuaries were set up, the weak property rights, the lure of commercialism, and the seeming lack of collective action to protect these resources have led to resource degradation in recent times. It is hypothesized that governance through policies and institutions influences bioresources conditions. At the ecosystem level, the four cases of best practices cited in the paper showed that community participation, external support, and local government leadership were factors for sustainable bioresource management. Species management practices have a dearth of documentation, and the paper poses some management strategies for this level. Among the recommendations is the critical role of science and technology in the development of bioresource management plans and in the monitoring of desired outcomes.