IK Monitor Publications (7-2)

Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, July 1999

Contents IK Monitor (7-2) | IKDM Homepage | Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl | © copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 1999.

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IMPORTANT NEW BOOKS

The appearance of important new publications is reported here, and the books are briefly described. We have requested review copies, which will be sent to experts for their opinions regarding the books' practical usefulness. The reviewers' comments will be published in a subsequent issue of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor.

Brookfield, Muriel and Harold Brookfield (eds) (1999) PLEC News and Views. Special issue on methodology. No. 13, April 1999. 34 pp. ISSN 1020 0843. Published for the United Nations University in the Department of Anthropology, Division of Society and Environment, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
Fax: +61-2-6249 4896.
E-mail: mbrook@coombs.anu.edu.au
This special issue of the periodical that is part of the United Nations University project on People, Land Management and Environmental Change (PLEC) addresses project methodology in the areas of biodiversity, agrodiversity, and demonstration sites. It contains three articles: 'Methods for the assessment of plant species diversity in complex agricultural landscapes: guidelines for data collection and analysis from the PLEC Biodiversity Advisory Group'; 'Guidelines on agro-diversity assessment in demonstration site areas'; and Demonstrating PLEC: a diversity of approaches'. Although the guidelines are for PLEC project members in the first place, and quite specific to them, there might be material in them that could be of use to others.

Selener, Daniel, N. Endara and J. Carvajal (1999) Participatory rural appraisal and planning workbook. 146 pp. (Available in English and Spanish). ISBN 9978-40-814-2. USD25, postage included. All orders must be prepaid. 20% discount is available on orders of more than 10 books. Send check payable to International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Regional Office for Latin America, Apartado Postal 17-08-8494, Quito, Ecuador.
Tel./Fax: +593-2-443 763.
E-mail: daniel@iirr.ecuanex.net.ec
The publisher informs us that this hands-on workbook provides guidelines for conducting participatory rural appraisal and planning (PRAP) to identify and design community and regional level projects, based on local needs. It emphasizes the 'how to' of the PRAP methodology in a practical and understandable way.
The workbook begins with brief descriptions of areas related to the planning and practical implementation of PRAP at the field level. The second part of the workbook explains, step by step, how to apply 22 different participatory appraisal and planning tools. More than 50 illustrations of actual field exercises, plus two complete PRAP case studies, document the process in detail.
Precise language, clear instructions and practical tips drawn from many years of field experience in Latin America make this an indispensable guide to practitioners directly involved in the identification and design of development projects in areas including: agriculture, health, education, and community development.