Browsing by Author "Mathieu, P."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Authority and conflict in management of natural resources: A story about trees and immigrants in southern Burkina Faso
    Laurent, P. J.; Mathieu, P. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Forest, Trees and People Programme, 1994)
    Social dynamics of local interest groups, especially those that concern land tenure issues, can significantly impact implementation of community projects. This newsletter provides a case study of a particular conflict simmering between Nuni and Mossi inhabitants of Burkina Faso concerning access and rights to land that quickly reached its boiling point upon execution of a community forest project. Before implementation of the project by a local NGO, tensions between the two groups were growing. The Mossi, an immigrant group, outnumbered the indigenous population, the Nuni, and continually called into question the Mossi right to land (given out by a specific Nuni village chief. Land reform in 1985, in which all land become owned by the State (thus undermining local chief power), further exacerbated the issue. Among these groups, planting trees is seen as a significant commitment to the land and as a symbol of ownership. In August 1992, members from both groups were to plant a community forest plot as a joint effort. The Mossi were in favor of having autonomous land rights; therefore, they desired to separate their plots of trees from the Nunis. Nunis, however, wanted to plant them side by side as a symbol of cooperation as well as to reinforce traditional land tenure agreements. After the groups nearly engaged in physical fighting, Mossi decided to plant at a different location, separate from the Nuni plot. Prior investigation and mediation completed by the local NGO may have dissolved some of the tension and combativeness, highlighting the importance of knowledge of local social structures.
  • La gestion alternative des conflits lies aux ressources naturelles
    Thiéba, D.; Ouedraogo, H.; Mathieu, P. (Comité Permanent de Lutte Contre la Secheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS) and FAO-FTPP (Arbres, Forets, et Communautes Rurales), 1995)
    Presents a synthesis of a CILSS workshop on alternative conflict management connected to natural resources. Conflict can be defined as "a situation of disagreement and opposition between groups or persons concerning the utilization and/or appropriation of certain natural resources.¿ Emphasis was placed on conflicts associated with forestry resources, recognizing that they are intimately interrelated to other natural resources. This workshop followed the CILSS regional conference in Praia (June 1994) which underlined the "necessity of considering the potential dangers conflict constitutes with respect to natural resources in the future of the Sahel.¿ The conference cited the urgency in preventing and managing conflict associated with natural resources and the necessity of integrating conflict management in the action plans for development. Case studies and reviews of the "state of the art" in each participating country were presented. Participants agreed that conflict could be classified according to many criteria including the space concerned, the stakeholders, the impact on natural resources, and the actors involved. The workshop accepted this latter to define the following types of (forestry-centered) conflicts:
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    Not Going It Alone: Public Writing, Independent Media, and the Circulation of Homeless Advocacy
    Mathieu, P.; George, D. (National Council of Teachers of English, 2009-09)
    This article argues that the teaching of public writing should not neglect issues of circulation and local need. In a series of case studies involving small press papers and homeless advocacy, the authors seek to extend recent work begun by Susan Wells, John Trimbur, and Nancy Welch, which raises crucial questions about public rhetoric in the writing classroom.
  • The question of the commons in the Sahel
    Freudenberger, M. S.; Mathieu, P. (1993)
    This report introduces common property regimes in the Sahel, establishes the conditions for the emergence of sustainable institutions to manage common property resources, and then concludes with policy recommendations.