Practical Action works with communities to strengthen the abilities of farmers, livestock keepers, fisherfolk and the landless poor to gain access to, and have control over natural resources, as well as building capacity for management, conservation and sustainable use of these resources. This relates to resources such as land, forests and water, and reconciling competing demands and trade-offs around such resources. Natural resource management is also necessary for the effective functioning of ecosystems which in turn help to guard against natural hazards. Mangroves, dunes, hills and reefs all play important roles in natural regulation against natural hazards. If these resources are depleted then this in turn will lead to increased frequency and intensity of natural hazards.

Secure access to natural productive resources is particularly important for poor communities in order for them to be able to plan for their future and use their resources effectively and sustainably. However, access to natural resources is often contested between different social groups and this often results in the poorest being excluded.

In Bangladesh there is conflict over communal fishing resources, a consensus building approach has been used to promote equal access by rich and poor to communal fishing resources. Practical Action facilitated a Water Body Management Committee to oversee the management of the common resource pool and to distribute profits equally. Through taking responsibility the water body committee has also ensured that this natural resource is not over exploited due to over fishing. For more information on our consensus building approach, please see 'Voices From the Margins'.