Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
growing demand for biofuels has given rise to increasing competition with local food
security and competing claims over land and water resources, giving rise to many new
research initiatives. Global markets and trade patterns create tensions when markets
rapidly expand or shrink. With respect to marine resources, there are growing pres-
sures on declining fish stocks and as a result tensions between artisanal and industrial
fishing fleets have intensified. A range of factors including environmental governance
issues, processes of empowerment and social action determine whether tensions evolve
into conflict or may induce cooperation. Understanding these dynamics is critical for
the livelihoods of millions of people who directly depend on natural resources for
their day-to-day living. It is here that the complexity of environmental conflict needs
to be taken into account. The political factors and wider livelihood dynamics that
together with environmental factors co-produce tension and conflict need to be unrav-
elled and understood if ameliorative action is to be undertaken. The centrality of
well-functioning natural resource governance regimes can hardly be overstated in this
regard.
Considering the above, CoCooN has identified four key features that need to be
taken into account when conducting research on conflict and natural resources: multi-
causality, the multifaceted functions of conflict, the dynamic and longitudinal nature
of conflict, and cross-level influences. In our prior academic and policy analyses, the
relevance of those issues became crystal clear. Though at first sight this may add to
the overall complexity of both analysis and policy practice, it does not have to lead to
paralysis; issues can be dealt with through a targeted and sequentialist approach that
does not address everything at once, but instead tackles the issues bit by bit.
2.4.2 Creating usable knowledge
Another major consideration was that knowledge and innovation were seen as essential
to the development process. The focus was no longer on discovering new technolog-
ical and institutional principles as much as it was on how to make better use of the
existing stock of knowledge and ensure this was translated into effective governance
mechanisms. Knowledge sharing is an important source of creating innovation, but
inequalities in the capacities for accessing and using knowledge continue to pose a
constraint to development in many countries. Moreover, the study of conflict and
cooperation over natural resources spans several levels of analysis and bridges many
disciplines. At the same time, the current speed of change in response to the interplay
of various global factors requires new forms of linking existing bodies of knowledge
with innovative research and experimentation.
2.4.3 Objectives
In view of those challenges, the CoCooN programme first aims to conduct high quality
research and enhance innovation in the field of natural resources and conflict. Secondly,
it hopes to contribute to positive change by providing contributions to evidence-based
policy development and practice in this area. Thirdly, it intends to make the knowledge
gained available, and this volume is one of the means in achieving this, in addition to
a range of other publications, seminars and conferences.
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