What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia

This paper presents a case study of decentralized forest management in lowland Bolivia. Bolivia has undertaken important policy reforms since the mid-1990s aimed at institutionalizing popular participation and promoting democratic decentralization. In the forestry sector, municipal governments have...

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Main Author: Pacheco, P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2004
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18978
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author Pacheco, P.
author_browse Pacheco, P.
author_facet Pacheco, P.
author_sort Pacheco, P.
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description This paper presents a case study of decentralized forest management in lowland Bolivia. Bolivia has undertaken important policy reforms since the mid-1990s aimed at institutionalizing popular participation and promoting democratic decentralization. In the forestry sector, municipal governments have received important responsibilities, and various mechanisms have been established to hold these governments accountable to local populations. Nevertheless, in spite of being one of the most advanced forestry sector decentralizations in developing nations, the democratization of decision-making is still limited, with local governments being primarily responsible for monitoring forest management and illegal activities, and promoting forest management by local users. The national government has retained the right to define standards and allocate forest resources. Still, the political environment prompted by decentralization has created conditions for local forest users and municipal governments to become stronger players in natural resources governance. Given this complex context, outcomes of decentralization are mixed, mainly as a result of municipal resources and capacity, local power relationships and the degree to which local economies depend on forest resources.
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spelling CGSpace189782025-01-24T14:12:12Z What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia Pacheco, P. decentralization decision making democracy participation forest management This paper presents a case study of decentralized forest management in lowland Bolivia. Bolivia has undertaken important policy reforms since the mid-1990s aimed at institutionalizing popular participation and promoting democratic decentralization. In the forestry sector, municipal governments have received important responsibilities, and various mechanisms have been established to hold these governments accountable to local populations. Nevertheless, in spite of being one of the most advanced forestry sector decentralizations in developing nations, the democratization of decision-making is still limited, with local governments being primarily responsible for monitoring forest management and illegal activities, and promoting forest management by local users. The national government has retained the right to define standards and allocate forest resources. Still, the political environment prompted by decentralization has created conditions for local forest users and municipal governments to become stronger players in natural resources governance. Given this complex context, outcomes of decentralization are mixed, mainly as a result of municipal resources and capacity, local power relationships and the degree to which local economies depend on forest resources. 2004 2012-06-04T09:09:00Z 2012-06-04T09:09:00Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18978 en Pacheco, P. 2004. What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia . European Journal of Development Research 16 (1) :90-109.
spellingShingle decentralization
decision making
democracy
participation
forest management
Pacheco, P.
What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title_full What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title_fullStr What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title_full_unstemmed What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title_short What lies behind decentralisation?: forest, powers and actors in lowland Bolivia
title_sort what lies behind decentralisation forest powers and actors in lowland bolivia
topic decentralization
decision making
democracy
participation
forest management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18978
work_keys_str_mv AT pachecop whatliesbehinddecentralisationforestpowersandactorsinlowlandbolivia