Aaron R. King

“When people feel that conservation is something done by them and not to them, they are empowered.”

Lauren J. Scanlon and Christian A. Kull (2009)

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Research Statement

I study the social and political outcomes of governance structure and institutional design in community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). Most of my research focuses on the relationship between participatory or collaborative forms of governance and social empowerment—the development of social capital and trust and their use toward the achievement of collective goals. As this agenda is preoccupied with institutions for collective action in the management of common pool resources, my research strongly engages the work of Elinor Ostrom and subsequent scholars seeking to understand how communities manage social-ecological systems.

I collaborate closely with my advisor, Dr. Brian Child, and our lab group at the University of Florida. My work contributes to a broader program seeking to utilize impact-oriented research on CBNRM governance and wildlife economics to guide implementation, reform, training, and capacity-building across southern Africa. More information about our group’s work can be found at the LifeThroughWildlife website.

Areas of Interest

Collaborative governance of natural resources, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), social-ecological systems, biodiversity conservation, wildlife economics, political ecology, southern Africa

Publications

King, A. R. (2013). [Review of the book Nigeria: After the Nightmare, by I. Hagher]. African Studies Quarterly 13(4), 109-110. (PDF)

Works in Progress

Child, B., King, A.R., Chidakel, A., Shimansky, T. (Forthcoming). What is CBNRM and has it been tried? Past, present, and future in Africa. In C. Samimi (Ed.), Forthcoming CBNRM book. James Currey.

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Shimansky, T., Merz, L., & King, A.R. The effects of governance structure and scale on community conservation in Southern Africa. Manuscript in preparation. (PDF available upon request)

Abstract:
This study examines the impact of governance structure and scale on the effectiveness of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) in Southern Africa. Drawing on survey data from 857 respondents in 15 CBNRM communities across Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia, we find that single-village organizations—characterized by inclusive, face-to-face governance—yield significantly higher satisfaction levels compared to multi-village organizations. Logistic regression results indicate that the enjoyment
of robust participatory rights, such as the ability to demand meetings or influence financial decisions, is positively associated with program satisfaction. Furthermore, individuals in single-village organizations are more likely to possess these robust rights. These findings highlight the governance advantages of smaller-scale, single-community CBNRM structures, suggesting that aligning management units with social and ecological contexts enhances both governance outcomes and local participation.
This study re-affirms key, yet overlooked, insights from commons scholars such as Ostrom and Murphree. For practitioners and policymakers, we demonstrate the need for robust devolution and prioritization of design principles focused on microgovernance and local deliberative institutions.

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King, A.R. Shared landscape, divergent outcomes: The social and spatial correlates of participation in CBNRM governance in Kunene, Namibia. Manuscript in preparation. (PDF available upon request)

Abstract:
Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programs rely on robust participatory governance to accomplish their ecological, economic, and social goals. However,participation varies significantly within and among communities, even in shared ecological landscapes. This study examines variation in governance participation across three communal conservancies in Kunene, Namibia: Ehi-Rovipuka, =/=Khoadi-//Hôas, and Doro !nawas. Using an original Participation in Governance Index (PGI) derived from household-level survey data,we explore the drivers of community participation and what makes some CBNRM programs more inclusive than others. Exploratory spatial analysis reveals localized patterns of governance participation, influenced by proximity to conservancy offices and primary roads. However, while geography matters, spatial structure is accounted for by conservancy boundaries in our OLS model. Our analyses indicate that the strongest predictors of participation are social trust, associational membership, and norms related to fairness and reciprocity. These findings provide strong evidence that community participation in CBNRM governance is driven by distinct conservancy-level factors. Governance participation is shaped not only by individual socio-demographic factors but also by localized institutional practices and unique social and spatial inequities in access. Despite their shared landscape and ecological challenges, the study conservancies exhibit idiosyncratic dynamics, emphasizing the need forflexible and decentralized governance frameworks. The importance of small-scale factors that may  differ from community to community even within a single conservancy is consistent with calls to deepen democratic participation and inclusivity through more complete devolution of CBNRM governance functions.

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Child, B., Chidakel, A., & King, A.R. Can foraging societies compete in a modern economy? An economic and institutional analysis of land use in Sankuyo community, Botswana. Manuscript in preparation.

This paper explores the economic and institutional dynamics of a forager community in Botswana, focusing on how land use in the Sankuyo community intersects with farming, hunting, and tourism under a devolved governance model. Using detailed analyses of household surveys and community financial data, we evaluate the impacts of government policies and power differentials on the economic performance of Sankuyo’s wildlife-based economy. Our findings reveal that while devolved rights over wildlife have allowed for substantial community benefits through hunting and tourism, institutional constraints, particularly centralized quota setting and weak tourism contracting, significantly undermine the community’s income potential. These results underscore the critical role that well-structured institutions play in enabling foraging societies to compete in modern economies, highlighting the need for more comprehensive devolution of economic rights to local communities to support sustainable livelihoods and conservation outcomes.

Field Research Experience

Field Research | Namibia (February 2024)

• Funded by The Nature Conservancy (SNAPP) and Namibia Chamber of Environment
• Comprehensive survey of livelihoods, household consumption, institutional participation, social capital, and wildlife tolerance
• Administered approximately 250 surveys in Zambezi Region, Namibia (Kwandu, Mashi, Wuparo conservancies)

CBNRM Governance Dashboard Surveys | Namibia (Summer 2023)

• Research supervised by Dr. Brian Child and Dr. Christopher Brown (Namibia Chamber of Environment); funded by Jamma International and Namibia Chamber of Environment
• Lead contributor to development of a survey of livelihoods, household consumption, institutional participation, social capital, and wildlife tolerance
• Collaborated with local communities to administer nearly 350 household-level surveys across three conservancies in Kunene Region (Ehi Rovipuka, ≠Khoadi-//Hôas, Doro !nawas)

Rural education and development project impact | Cross River State, Nigeria (2008)

• Contributed to impact assessments for education and health projects conducted by local development organization, Children of Rural Africa
• Conducted 60 semi-structured interviews and two focus groups in rural Cross River State to assess local education and health service needs
• Funded by a grant from Park School of Communications at Ithaca College

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