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How does the environment affect the poor? Lauren Franck SIO 209: Poverty & the Environment March 30, 2010

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Halving poverty? The key Millennium Goal of halving poverty in a decade [by 2015] cannot be met without better environmental protection, according to a new report. But unless the importance of the environment is grasped and acted upon, the report concludes that the key Millennium Goal on poverty will not be met. -BBC News

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World Resources 2005

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Key Points Economic growth (that aids the poor) begins with natural resources Economic growth (that aids the poor) begins with natural resources Most of the worlds impoverished societies are rural and their livelihoods are directly tied to water, forests, and fields Most of the worlds impoverished societies are rural and their livelihoods are directly tied to water, forests, and fields Nations can take a bottom-up approach to growth that begins with those natural resources that the poor already use/interact with Nations can take a bottom-up approach to growth that begins with those natural resources that the poor already use/interact with

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Namibia Community-based Natural Resource Management Community-based Natural Resource Management Conservancies run by elected locals, who are given user rights over wildlife by the government Conservancies run by elected locals, who are given user rights over wildlife by the government User rights held by committees, not directly by households User rights held by committees, not directly by households Zebra, oryx, kudu, and springbok populations are rebounding Zebra, oryx, kudu, and springbok populations are rebounding Rural/poor communities gaining cash, jobs, and game meat Rural/poor communities gaining cash, jobs, and game meat Womens livelihoods and status have improved Womens livelihoods and status have improved

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India Maharashta state- suffers from droughts Maharashta state- suffers from droughts Village-based water management results in more independent communities Village-based water management results in more independent communities Increased wells and subsistence crops have reduced womens household labor Increased wells and subsistence crops have reduced womens household labor

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Tanzania UN initiated, Tanzanian government led HASHI program UN initiated, Tanzanian government led HASHI program Restores native vegetation (trees) in enclosures, reverting to traditional land management Ngitili (from agriculture) Restores native vegetation (trees) in enclosures, reverting to traditional land management Ngitili (from agriculture) Improved local diets, raised incomes, brought back local wildlife and increased biodiversity Improved local diets, raised incomes, brought back local wildlife and increased biodiversity

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Indonesia Local people trained to document and report illegal logging in 15 regions with video cameras Local people trained to document and report illegal logging in 15 regions with video cameras Program sponsored by 2 US/UK NGOs Program sponsored by 2 US/UK NGOs Without logging, traditional livelihoods become possible again- river fishing, mixed crop farming, cultivation of honey, bamboo, and herbs for medicines Without logging, traditional livelihoods become possible again- river fishing, mixed crop farming, cultivation of honey, bamboo, and herbs for medicines

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Fiji Locally managed marine areas- villages choose to put quotas on shellfish and other marine resources (similar to traditional management practices) Locally managed marine areas- villages choose to put quotas on shellfish and other marine resources (similar to traditional management practices)

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Discussion Questions What international policies make the biggest difference for environmental stability and poverty? What international policies make the biggest difference for environmental stability and poverty? What are other examples of a clear relationship between poverty and the environment? What are other examples of a clear relationship between poverty and the environment? How is responsibility for aid and assistance established for natural vs anthropogenic environmental problems (Tsunami vs Oil Spill)? How is responsibility for aid and assistance established for natural vs anthropogenic environmental problems (Tsunami vs Oil Spill)? How do you maintain community-run environmental strategies (against outside influence)? How do you maintain community-run environmental strategies (against outside influence)?