Legal and institutional conditions for local management of natural resources : Mali

Facing problems of land, natural resources and environment, Sahelian governments have become increasingly aware that solutions must be sought first among local communities. These communities, in association with government at local and national levels, should be responsible for land and natural resource management. This chapter discusses recent land tenure and environmental management developments as they have occurred in Mali. First, a historical summary of the policies followed in Mali with respect to decentralization, land tenure and management of natural resources shows that the strongly centralized government which was introduced in all French colonies was continued after independence by the Malian government. The government regarded itself as the sole authority capable of managing land and natural resources, leaving little room for local initiatives. Events taking place between 1990 and 1992, however, have led to a change in policy: land policy and environmental management are now invariably linked with decentralization. Next, certain legal and institutional constraints concerning the local management of land and natural resources are discussed, with special attention being paid to local management contracts. Finally, political dimensions of improved environmental protection in Mali are considered, focusing on problems of rapid implementation of decentralization and the importance of a durable democracy. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. (p. 8)