Natural resources are often valued externally and policies are framed for sustainable resource use with the objective of maximising social benefits. Users of natural resources in rural areas value resources differently due to complex socio-economic, demographic, environmental and cultural attributes of their households. The literature on issues regarding the relationship between poverty and resource degradation on one hand and property rights and institutions in natural resource management on the other holds divergent views. This research analyses and pulls together five case studies of the awareness and attitudes of people about natural resources. It attempts to provide a general perspective on the issues at hand, about protecting and raising long and short-term investments both public and private.