Collective action and learning in developing a local monitoring system

One of the challenges communities face when managing forests is the lack of a systematic and transparent monitoring system that can be used to monitor their resource management strategies and communicate their successes to outsiders. This paper argues that monitoring efforts will be sustainable only if the system has been developed by the communities in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders, with the aim of enhancing their learning and understanding, rather than for compliance purposes. The paper describes processes used by a People's Organisation in Palawan, Philippinesto develop their monitoring system with the support of several key stakeholders. These include the development of a monitoring framework and arrangements (including who collects data, what data to collect, and how to collect it) and negotiation on how to collaborate in this effort. Results indicate that the development process has brought together a range of community groups and stakeholders with different interests, objectives, and mandates for collective action and learning.