以社區為基礎的自然資源經營管理，是近二、三十年來國際保育社會相對應於中央集權與科學管理取徑的自然資源經營管理或保育的新典範，其特徵除著重小尺度外，更是以社區參與、在地知識與共有資源管理為學理基礎，重視在地脈絡，強調社區／部落為主要的經營管理主體。本文係回顧整理相關社區保育的學理基礎，以國內無尾港野生動物保護區、湖本村社區營造與山美達娜伊谷自然生態公園為材料，嘗試建構臺灣在地脈絡的社區保育論述。本研究發現社區／部落組織的確在自然資源經營管理 (保育) 工作上可扮演重要的角色，另外包括保育的思維、經營管理的取向、生態環境的作用、政府官署的支持與賦權等，皆需與社區需求相配合。此外，社區組織本身的組織與運作成熟度、經濟誘因、法規體制的連結等也皆是推動社區保育時應注意的議題。由於每個社區個案的背景與脈絡不同，社區係非同質化的組成，社團組織永續經營的困難度較高，因此，以社區為基礎的保育計畫，不宜通案訂定模式，而需要個別考量。

Classical paradigms of natural resource management and/or conservation have been characterized by the use of scientific knowledge under the strong influence of the national government. In the last three decades, an alternative paradigm has emerged that embraces a community-based approach. Characterized by small scale projects, this paradigm’s theoretical foundation is rooted in community participation, local knowledge, and common-pool resource management, with communities/tribes as the main management bodies. This study describes and reviews the debates of community-based conservation in recent decades. It also analyzes three case studies in Taiwan, namely the Wu-wei-kang Wildlife Refuge, the Hu-ben ecological village project and the Danayiku natural ecological park. On the whole, this study aims at contributing to the building up theoretical framework for community-based conservation in Taiwan. The result shows that grassroots-level organizations can play a key role in conservation. It also reveals several factors that influence the outcome of community-based conservation projects: conservation ideas and strategies, management objectives and approaches, ecological environment, support and empowerment by the government, the demand of local communities, institutional arrangement and operation of grassroots-level organizations themselves, economic incentives and institutionalization. Due to the heterogeneous components in any community and the difficulties for the sustainable management of NGOs, there are some uncertainties for participatory natural resource management in community-based conservation. Finally, this study suggests that as no general model can fit all cases, the adoption of a community-based approach needs to focus on the community’s own condition and context.