Determinants and impact of local institutions for common resource management

In this article, local institutions for forest conservation and management are analysed. The discussion is based on data from 37 villages and 180 hous eholds randomly sampled from a protected area in Rajasthan, India. Local ma nagement institutions are described, factors affecting inter-village differ ences in management institutions and collective action are analysed in a le git model, and the impact of institutions and other variables on common res ource dependency and forest outcomes is tested using instrumental variable regression. Village population size has a positive effect and prior institu tional experience a negative effect on the probability of collective action . It is concluded that efforts at improving forest management should not be confined to the poorest farmers. Large landowners are heavily involved in degrading use practises, especially when resources have good market potenti al. Local management institutions play a positive role in the area, but the ir impact appears insufficient to safeguard forests and commons h om contin ued degradation. Conservation policies should target win-win options throug h interventions aimed at improving technologies for private and common land s as well as institutional changes.