Towards integrated natural resources management (INRM) in dry areas subject to land degradation: The example of the Khanasser valley in Syria

Using the Khanasser Valley in Syria as an example, this paper looks at Integrated Natural Resource management (INRM) as an approach to tackle land degradation. The authors argue that INRM is a better approach because of its comprehensive nature and simplification of the inherently complex socio-ecological systems.

One of the greatest challenges currently facing humankind is the alleviation of poverty while maintaining life support systems. Many people are dependent on natural resources that are often unsustainably used by poor people themselves or by other powerful stakeholders. Drylands face a number of converging trends that include: high population growth rates, water scarcity, increasing dependency on grain imports for food security, increasing migration from rural areas, problems of restrictive international trade policies and subsidies, among others.

The authors argue that INRM aims to help solve complex real-world problems affecting natural resources in agro-ecosystems. The main strategy to achieve this is to foster and improve the adaptive capacity and learning of all the involved stakeholders. The authors give a number of strategic directions that will facilitate this process by merging research and development, setting up a system for adapting and learning, and balancing biophysical and socio-economic sciences.

In order to have a successful INRM Framework, the authors present a list of recommendations.

• It is essential that Natural Resource (NR) managers, extension officers and researchers all participate from the initiation of the research;
• Scaling out and up should become part of the research process rather than a delivery mechanism for a finished product;
• The relevant stakeholders should be involved;
• Capacity building for INRM should be assessed in a wider perspective;
• In order to make a real impact, changes in NRM must be owned and internalised by NR managers and other stakeholders;
• An alternative approach to impact assessment should be used to measure the improved performance of the system and the ability of the NR managers at various levels to adapt to external change;
• For knowledge management, proper database management, reporting skills and the ability to translate scientific findings in simple and clear messages are essential;
• Improved analytical skill is needed to integrate formal knowledge with informal knowledge.