
Short Course
Rhodes University
COURSE OVERVIEW

This will be the fifteenth year that Rhodes University have
offered a course on Community-Based Natural Resource
Management. Each year the course has taken a different
approach in response to the needs expressed by
participants, and identified through experience in the field.
There is currently considerable interest in the idea of
‘Resilience’ and in how CBNRM processes can be
strengthened to deal with the many challenges they face.
This course will focus on how learning and adaptation are
essential in developing resilience and helping to ensure the
real sustainabilityof CBNRM.
Resilience in and for CBNRM:
Strengthening Resilience through
Learning and Adaptation
17-21 August 2015
Presented by:
The Department of Environmental Science and the
Environmental Learning Research Centre
Rhodes University, Grahamstown
The course will explore the idea of CBNRM as a socioecological system, and the relationships between the social
and ecological component. It will also identify the risks
currently faced by CBNRM initiatives, and the social and
ecological thresholds beyond which they may become
unviable and unsustainable. This will involve an analysis
of the factors that influence CBNRM initiatives positively,
and those that influence them negatively, with the aim of
increasing and strengething the former, while reducing the
latter.
Key to developing an understanding of resilience will be
the sessions devoted to understanding the positive
contribution to livelihoods from CBNRM, and the need to
look at a diversity of livelihood activities. In addition the
value of the natural and social assets that underpin
CBNRM will be discussed, together with the need to
ensure that they, too, should be diverse.
As with almost all previous courses there will be time
dedicated to monitoring and evaluation of the different
components of CBNRM, in particular the socio-economic
and ecological aspects.
AIMS
The course will aim to support participants in:

Understanding the concept of ‘resilience’

Understanding what is meant by ‘learning and
adaptation

Understanding of the importance of being able to
assess risks, thresholds and influencing factors

Understanding of the importance of diversification;
in livelihoods, and the social and natural asset base

Understanding approaches to monitoring and
evaluation of all aspects of CBNRM processes

Using case studies to analyse the critical contribution
that monitoring and evaluation makes to CBNRM.
A further aim of the course is to help develop a network of
CBNRM practitioners, who, through a ‘Community of
Practice’ can support each other in their work.
The course will provide opportunities for discussions and
contributions from participants - although there will never
be enough time for all that everyone wants to contribute!
There will be group activities associated with some
sessions.
Lecturers will include Prof. Heila Lotz-Sisitka, Lawrence
Sisitka, Prof. James Gambiza, Dr Georgina Cundill and Dr
Gladman Thondhlana. Other contributors will include a
range of CBNRM experts in the region.
The course will be intensive, with presentations, activities,
and debates running from 8:30 - 5:00 p.m. A field trip,
where participants can explore some of the key ideas as
they play out in reality, will be a central feature of the
course. Participants wishing to achieve a Certificate of
Competence must complete a formal assignment within 4
weeks after the end of the course. This assignment will be
assessed according to strict criteria.
 WHO SHOULD ATTEND? 
This course is intended primarily to meet the needs of
practitioners in the field. They should have responsibilities
for actively facilitating and supporting CBNRM. Ideally
they should have a relevant post-matric qualification
(Certificate, Diploma or first degree), and up to two years
experience in CBNRM related activities. It is expected
that they will have some basic understanding of the social
and natural contexts in which CBNRM is located.
More specifically, the course is aimed at:
 CBNRM facilitators working in such fields as:
 Conservation (including protected area
management)
 Forestry
 Tourism
 Parks and recreation
 Rural and peri-urban development
 Land affairs
 Agriculture
 Environmental affairs
 Environmental educators and extension staff
 Students of natural resources and natural resource
management
 National and provincial government officials with
CBNRM related responsibilities
 Local and district municipal officials with CBNRM
related responsibilities
Minimum qualifications: an appropriate 2 or 3 year
Certificate, Diploma or Bachelors degree and up to 2 years
practical experience in CBNRM. Alternatively matric plus
4-5 years experience.
There are only 35 places available on
the course
Please send completed form to z.madlebe@ru.ac.za
Or fax to 0466037574
 
COSTS

The cost of this professional course is R7000 per
participant.
Included in this fee are:
 A set of course notes and other literature
 A CD with a number of key documents, including:
- Guidelines for CBNRM
- Lessons learned from CBNRM Monitoring
- Lessons learned from Implementing CBNRM
 Lunches and teas
 A field trip
 A Rhodes University Certificate of Competence (for
those completing and passing the assignment), OR a
Letter of Attendance for those attending but not
completing or passing the assignment.
 
REGISTRATION FORM
Name:
Position Held:
Organisation:
Address:
Postal code:
Telephone:
Fax:
Additional costs (your responsibility) will be air transport,
travel between Port Elizabeth airport and Grahamstown,
evening meals, and accommodation in Grahamstown.
Details of accommodation available can be found on the
following websites:
Makana Tourism website: www.makanatourism.co.za
(tel: 046-622-3241)
Grahamstown Hospitality Guild website:
www.grahamstown-accommodation.co.za
I enclose my registration fee of R 7000
(Cheques made payable to RHODES
UNIVERSITY): _____ (please tick)
Please return by 17th July 2015 or address
any logistical queries to:
Zuki Madlebe, Environmental Science
Department, Rhodes University, PO Box 94
Grahamstown, 6140 z.madlebe@ru.ac.za;
Tel: 046-603-7002 Fax: 0466037574
Please address any programme queries to:
James Gambiza: j.gambiza@ru.ac.za
Cell no:
E-mail:
Years’ experience:
Highest
Qualification:
ID Number (for
certificate):
The particular
type of CBNRM in
which I am
involved is:
Special dietary
requirements
(vegetarian, etc.)
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