Abstract

This paper basically deals with the dynamics of natural resource management in Madurai District According to Singh and Singh 2007 Natural Resource Management is usually a group action programme involving the entire population of the watershed The ninth five year plan document also stated that development programme could be implemented successfully only with the involvement of people It is imperative to ensure people s active participation in all phases of planning and implementing the programme But there is no universality acceptable measure or index of people s participation the necessity of developing scales in view of its importance The following questions were posed while taking up this study - whether NGOs are superior to the GOs in enlisting the people s participation imparting knowledge and to adoption of technologies Secondly what type of participation is more effective for planning and implementation of the programme and finally what are the attributing factors for high performance of an organization To explore suitable and concrete answer to three questions a study was needed Besides an effort was also made to identify the perceived constraints in participation and reason for the non-adoption of recommended integrated watershed technologies selected personal and social psychological factors their relationship relative importance their direct and indirect efforts as participation knowledge and adoption levels were the other aspects of the study Finally the suggestion perceived by the beneficiaries for effective participation and adoption of practices in watershed areas were also enumerated This research reviews the role of Community including panchayats in environmental governances and critically examines ways to balance empowerment of panchayats without compromising the participation of the community Degradation of Natural Resources and Impacts Health Impacts Management and conservation of natural resources is important for the maintena