RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Community-Based Management Improve Natural Resource Condition? Evidence from the Forests in Nepal
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 107
OP 131
DO 10.3368/le.85.1.107
VO 85
IS 1
A1 Tachibana, Towa
A1 Adhikari, Sunit
YR 2009
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/85/1/107.abstract
AB Does community management improve the condition of local natural resources? Do interventions by official agencies enhance the functions of voluntary communal management? With 101 randomly sampled natural forests in the Middle Hills of Nepal, we address these questions. Forest condition was evaluated by aerial-photo interpretations and forest inventories. We find that user groups that did not receive official support have substantially improved forest condition. This is the result of reduced forest fire occurrence. User groups receiving official support can also be effective. Our analysis shows that, controlling for the possibility of self-selection in applying for support, such groups improved tree regeneration. (JEL Q23, Q28)