HOW TO: COMMUNITY VISIONING

Community members reflect on the conditions of their lands, natural resources, and socio-cultural life thirty to fifty years in the past, in the present, and thirty to fifty years in the future (if circumstances continued along the current trajectory), then envision the “desired future” they would choose to leave for their grandchildren. The community then brainstorms a work plan for how to achieve its vision; this plan then becomes the basis of their community land protection process.

Community visioning:

• Supports communi􏰀ties to recognize and reflect on how their community’s rela􏰀tionship to its lands and natural resources has changed over 􏰀me;
• Raises awareness of increasing natural resource scarcity and the long­term consequences of unsustainable natural resource use;
• Moti􏰀vates communi􏰀ties to undertake and complete the community land protecti􏰀on process;
• Empowers communiti􏰀es to strengthen their land governance as well as manage and use their lands and natural resources equitably and sustainably; and
• Creates a united sense of purpose and mission to work collaborati􏰀vely toward shared goals.

1) Remembering the past

Ask community members to describe what their lands, natural resources and community relati􏰀ons were like in the past, 50 years ago, when today’s elders were children. Ask community members to share their memories with the group. Write down what people say. Make sure to give everyone a turn to speak – elders tend to become very animated during these discussions, while young people may be prompted to share what their grandparents have told them about the past.

2) Reflec􏰀ting on the present

Ask community members to consider what their lands, natural resources and community relations are like today.

3) Envisioning the likely future

Ask community members what their lands and natural resources/community rela􏰀tions will be like 50 years from now, for their grandchildren, if things con􏰀tinue as they are today. Invite par􏰀ticipants to close their eyes to really “see” the vision in their minds.

4) Envisioning the desired future

Ask community members to close their eyes a second 􏰀time, and to dream about the world they would wish for their grandchildren to have in 20 or 50 years from now. Again, allow a few minutes to think about this in silence, then ask people to share their visions. Write down everything people say on large pieces of paper.

5) Link the visioning exercise with the community land protecti􏰀on work

End the exercise with clear next steps, beginning with protec􏰀ng community lands. Remind everyone of the steps in the community land protec􏰀on process and describe how each step will strengthen the community’s ability to achieve its vision. For example, creati􏰀ng clear rules for the use and management of natural resources like thatch, wood, and water will help to make sure that they are available for future genera􏰀tions. Support community members to brainstorm other acti􏰀ons that they could begin — alongside community land protec􏰀tion efforts — to start moving toward their vision, such as revitalizing community dance performances or planti􏰀ng trees.