Building Capacity in Resource Management - Honorary Wildlife Warden

In recent years, there have been calls for a more active participation by the local community in natural resource management. This is an aspect of collaborative management which is an integral part of an ecosystem approach being implemented by signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Enforcement of regulations is an important aspect of natural resource management. Traditional and conventional views see enforcement to be strictly within the purview of designated managing agencies working within their respective legislations (such as the Fisheries Act, Parks Enactment and Wildlife Conservation Enactment). However, there are provisions in some legislations that allow the participation of local communities in enforcement activities. These include provisions that allow the appointment of Honorary Wildlife Wardens and Honorary Park Rangers.

WWF-Malaysia works with various stakeholders to build the capacity of local community members, towards encouraging their participation in natural resource management. Between April and June this year, 37 community members originating from within the proposed Tun Mustapha Park underwent a three-day Honorary Wildlife Warden Training conducted by Sabah Wildlife Department in two different locations.

The first training session was conducted on Lankayan Island in the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) in April 2008. Ten community members from Banggi Island and Kudat participated in the training organized by Reef Guardian. This first session provided the opportunity for participants from Kudat to see how enforcement is carried out within a marine protected area, and to see firsthand the benefits of protecting an area which include increased fish abundance, spill-over effects in nearby fishing grounds and the potential of ecotourism in supporting conservation efforts in an area.

The second training session was conducted in Kudat in June. 25 community members from Banggi and Maliangin islands off Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas participated in the training organized by WWF-Malaysia. This training session was the first Honorary Wildlife Warden organized within the Kudat region, and provided the opportunity for community members to learn about Sabah Wildlife Department - its role in wildlife management, and how local communities can play a role in the management of wildlife.

These two training sessions is hoped to be a catalyst for more active participation by local communities in natural resource management.