Lane, Marcus B.Corbett, T.2006-12-032006-12-032005Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 2005; 7 (2):141-1591523-908Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/17640© RoutledgeThis paper examines the claim that community-based environmental management is fairer and more democratic than so-called ‘top-down' approaches. The paper examines the experience of Australian indigenous peoples with a national, community-based environmental management programme. The analysis of the programme reveals systemic marginalization of indigenous peoples. The paper suggests that ‘bottom-up' governance serves to magnify the importance of local material and symbolic contests in which indigenous groups are engaged. Community-based environmental management can fail precisely because of what many of its advocates take to be its more democratic quality: its localism.enEnvironmental management; localism; community-based environmental management; indigenous peoplesJournal article002005221810.1080/152390805003386712-s2.0-28344434371