Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management

Co-management approaches in forestry have frequently failed to fulfill their promise and have generated unexpected conflicts. This is partly because they intersect with a plurality of interests and concerns, in settings that are more socially, institutionally and ecologically differentiated and dyna...

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Main Authors: Leach, M., Fairhead, James
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2001
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18544
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author Leach, M.
Fairhead, James
author_browse Fairhead, James
Leach, M.
author_facet Leach, M.
Fairhead, James
author_sort Leach, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Co-management approaches in forestry have frequently failed to fulfill their promise and have generated unexpected conflicts. This is partly because they intersect with a plurality of interests and concerns, in settings that are more socially, institutionally and ecologically differentiated and dynamic than is often assumed. This article engages with current debates around pluralism in community forestry, and illustrates how they can be informed by a better understanding of institutional dynamics. It begins by characterizing the dynamic forest landscapes in which community forestry processes are enacted. It goes on to sketch out some analytical tools that can help illuminate these processes, and which expose the links between interests in forests, resource access and control, and institutions. In this context, the third part of the article illustrates how institutional dynamics can work out in practice when villagers, governmental, non-governmental and donor agencies interact in the practice of community forestry. The need to take account of multiple institutions and power relations, to manage pluralism rather than necessarily attempting to achieve consensus, and to appreciate social and ecological uncertainties, suggests that forest management should seek to influence processes rather than to define states, and be adaptive rather than pre-planned.
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spelling CGSpace185442025-01-24T14:12:09Z Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management Leach, M. Fairhead, James community forestry communities forests forest management cooperation institutions pluralism social differentiation Co-management approaches in forestry have frequently failed to fulfill their promise and have generated unexpected conflicts. This is partly because they intersect with a plurality of interests and concerns, in settings that are more socially, institutionally and ecologically differentiated and dynamic than is often assumed. This article engages with current debates around pluralism in community forestry, and illustrates how they can be informed by a better understanding of institutional dynamics. It begins by characterizing the dynamic forest landscapes in which community forestry processes are enacted. It goes on to sketch out some analytical tools that can help illuminate these processes, and which expose the links between interests in forests, resource access and control, and institutions. In this context, the third part of the article illustrates how institutional dynamics can work out in practice when villagers, governmental, non-governmental and donor agencies interact in the practice of community forestry. The need to take account of multiple institutions and power relations, to manage pluralism rather than necessarily attempting to achieve consensus, and to appreciate social and ecological uncertainties, suggests that forest management should seek to influence processes rather than to define states, and be adaptive rather than pre-planned. 2001 2012-06-04T09:08:32Z 2012-06-04T09:08:32Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18544 en Leach, M., Fairhead, J. 2001. Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management . International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology 1 (3/4) :223-242.
spellingShingle community forestry
communities
forests
forest management
cooperation
institutions
pluralism
social differentiation
Leach, M.
Fairhead, James
Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title_full Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title_fullStr Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title_full_unstemmed Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title_short Plural perspectives and institutional dynamics: challenges for local forest management
title_sort plural perspectives and institutional dynamics challenges for local forest management
topic community forestry
communities
forests
forest management
cooperation
institutions
pluralism
social differentiation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18544
work_keys_str_mv AT leachm pluralperspectivesandinstitutionaldynamicschallengesforlocalforestmanagement
AT fairheadjames pluralperspectivesandinstitutionaldynamicschallengesforlocalforestmanagement