World Resources Institute''''s Resources Policy Support Initiative (REPSI) and Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge (CBIK) in jointly initiate a research project - The Impact of Decentralization and Democratization on Upland Watershed Management in , China. Local problems include:

1. Increasing decentralization but lack of readiness at different levels for policy options and institutional strategies in upland watershed management;

2. Democratization progress at village and county levels but lack of capacity, capability and mechanisms to effectively manage the conflict/competition for natural resource rights between upland and lowland communities;

3. Poor coordination among different sectors and stakeholders in natural resources management (NRM);

4. Inadequate capacity in research and analysis to support policy and decision making on upland watersheds to cope with the constant changes in legal and policy framework; and

5. Weak links between independent research and government decision-making.

CBIK and REPSI teams have decided to work together to address some of the most crucial issues in upland watershed management in , China, with a particular focus on the institutional strategies to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation. We believe that this joint effort will:

1. generate an improved assessment and understanding of past experience with policy development, implementation and its impacts in NRM in Yunnan;

2. Assess future challenges and policy options in institutional strategies to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation;

3. Improve local capacity in policy research and analysis and strengthen the links between independent research and government decision making in Yunnan;

4. Contribute to government strategy development on decentralization and democratization in NRM in Yunnan; and

5. Strengthen the foundation in for regional exchanges on related issues with other REPSI partners in .

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