Community Development Approach to Environment Management‪.‬

Abstract Community development is a process which emphasizes local knowledge, capacity building, local initiative, ownership, participation, education and action. It is a useful model upon which an approach to environmental management can be based. The Huron Stewardship Council, established under the auspices of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' Private Land Resource Stewardship Program, uses a number of community development principles to ensure a community perspective on the development and implementation of an approach to environmental management. This paper explores the relationship between community development and its application in Ontario's Private Land Resource Stewardship Program, with special reference to the Huron Stewardship Council. The paper stresses the importance of community participation in the identification of environmental issues and in the development and implementation of programs and actions.