The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America

This study adopts an institutional approach to analyze the way in which informal rules, in their interaction with formal rules, shape the use of forest resources by diverse types of smallholders and communities (i.e., indigenous people, agro-extractive and traditional communities) in Latin America....

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Pacheco, P., Barry, D.M., Cronkleton, P., Larson, A.M.
Formato: Libro
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Center for International Forestry Research 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20044
_version_ 1855528807675461632
author Pacheco, P.
Barry, D.M.
Cronkleton, P.
Larson, A.M.
author_browse Barry, D.M.
Cronkleton, P.
Larson, A.M.
Pacheco, P.
author_facet Pacheco, P.
Barry, D.M.
Cronkleton, P.
Larson, A.M.
author_sort Pacheco, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study adopts an institutional approach to analyze the way in which informal rules, in their interaction with formal rules, shape the use of forest resources by diverse types of smallholders and communities (i.e., indigenous people, agro-extractive and traditional communities) in Latin America. Attention is given to understanding the ‘working rules’, comprising both formal and informal rules, that individuals use in making their decisions for land and forest resources access and use, which in turn affect benefits generation and distribution from such resources use. The dichotomy between formal and informal institutions take on relative importance, it is their interaction that matters in assessing human behavior. Three areas of behavior that affect forest resource use by smallholders and communities are examined: (1) the interface of formal rules, often contained in written laws, and practiced ‘rules of the game’ that guide how smallholders and communities control, allocate, legitimize and enforce land and forest tenure rights, (2) local systems for forest resource use and management under the imposition of formal regulations and models, and (3) smallholder interaction with markets influenced by the constraints and opportunities produced by formal regulations. The principal findings suggest that in spite of the fact that many governments have introduced progressive policies intended to benefit rural populations and their forest use, it is questionable the extent to which such policies have actually brought about any real change to benefit communities. Exploring the role of informal institutions, as they interact with formal law, is important to explain these outcomes in practice. This study draws on five case studies that provide evidence supporting this argument. Field research was carried out from 2006 to 2007 in four different countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
format Libro
id CGSpace20044
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher Center for International Forestry Research
publisherStr Center for International Forestry Research
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace200442025-01-24T14:13:17Z The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America Pacheco, P. Barry, D.M. Cronkleton, P. Larson, A.M. forest resources community forestry community involvement governance forest management This study adopts an institutional approach to analyze the way in which informal rules, in their interaction with formal rules, shape the use of forest resources by diverse types of smallholders and communities (i.e., indigenous people, agro-extractive and traditional communities) in Latin America. Attention is given to understanding the ‘working rules’, comprising both formal and informal rules, that individuals use in making their decisions for land and forest resources access and use, which in turn affect benefits generation and distribution from such resources use. The dichotomy between formal and informal institutions take on relative importance, it is their interaction that matters in assessing human behavior. Three areas of behavior that affect forest resource use by smallholders and communities are examined: (1) the interface of formal rules, often contained in written laws, and practiced ‘rules of the game’ that guide how smallholders and communities control, allocate, legitimize and enforce land and forest tenure rights, (2) local systems for forest resource use and management under the imposition of formal regulations and models, and (3) smallholder interaction with markets influenced by the constraints and opportunities produced by formal regulations. The principal findings suggest that in spite of the fact that many governments have introduced progressive policies intended to benefit rural populations and their forest use, it is questionable the extent to which such policies have actually brought about any real change to benefit communities. Exploring the role of informal institutions, as they interact with formal law, is important to explain these outcomes in practice. This study draws on five case studies that provide evidence supporting this argument. Field research was carried out from 2006 to 2007 in four different countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Nicaragua. 2008 2012-06-04T09:12:59Z 2012-06-04T09:12:59Z Book https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20044 en Open Access Center for International Forestry Research Pacheco, P., Barry, D., Cronkleton, P., Larson, A.M. 2008. The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America . Forests and Governance Programme Series No.15. Bogor, Indonesia, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). 78p. ISBN: 978-979-1412-79-7..
spellingShingle forest resources
community forestry
community involvement
governance
forest management
Pacheco, P.
Barry, D.M.
Cronkleton, P.
Larson, A.M.
The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title_full The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title_fullStr The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title_full_unstemmed The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title_short The role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in Latin America
title_sort role of informal institutions in the use of forest resources in latin america
topic forest resources
community forestry
community involvement
governance
forest management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/20044
work_keys_str_mv AT pachecop theroleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT barrydm theroleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT cronkletonp theroleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT larsonam theroleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT pachecop roleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT barrydm roleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT cronkletonp roleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica
AT larsonam roleofinformalinstitutionsintheuseofforestresourcesinlatinamerica