Diplomarbeit aus dem Jahr 2007 im Fachbereich Geowissenschaften / Geographie - Wirtschaftsgeographie, Note: 1,0, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel (Geographisches Institut), Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to introduce impact monitoring as a tool of assessing improvement in development projects with a focus on sustainable management of natural resources at municipal level. The impact monitoring system is introduced in theory as well as in practice on the basis of project examples in South Africa. The South African Government identified inappropriate utilization of natural resources leading to degradation and impacting negatively on the economic potential and on biodiversity of rural areas as a main obstacle for development. This overexploitation and degradation of the natural resources due to lack of alternative opportunities for subsistence and income generation finally reduces further income generating opportunities in the long term. This lead to an innovative, participatory conservation approach called Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). CBNRM attempts, simultaneously, to secure rural peoples livelihoods, improve the natural resource base, and to strengthen local governance potential. In contrast to earlier strategies which have dealt with resource protection and/or nature conservation, now the community with its ecological as well as economic problems takes centre stage. In this context a paradigm shift from nature conservation and resource protection at all costs to nature conservation and resource protection for and by the local population has taken place. Therefore, the community itself is the centre of the support measures.