De jure versus de facto institutions: trust, information, and collective efforts to manage the invasive mile-a-minute weed (Mikania micrantha)

Abstract

Differences in governance relationships and community efforts to remove an exotic, rapidly spreading invasive plant, the-mile-a-minute weed (Mikania micrantha), are explored in five case study community forests in the subtropical region of Chitwan, Nepal. An institutional analysis informs an examination of the de jure (formal) versus de facto (on the ground) institutions and actor relationships relevant to Mikania removal efforts. Contrary to the expectations set by the de jure situation, we find heterogeneous governance relationships and norms related to Mikania management across community forests. Content analysis of interview data illuminates reoccurring themes and their implications 172 Abigail Sullivan et al.for social and ecological outcomes in the communities. Complex governance relationships and regular discussion of distrust of government and non-government officials help explain collective action efforts and management decisions. The content analysis suggests that Mikania is impacting people's daily lives but the degree of severity and the response to the disruption varies substantially and is affected by other problems experienced by community forest members. Our results indicate that understanding how the de facto, or on the ground situation, differs from the de jure institutions may be vital in structuring successful efforts to manage invasive species and understanding collective action problems related to other social-ecological threats. We present data-informed propositions about common pool resource management and invasive species. This study contributes to a better scientific understanding of how institutions mediate social-ecological challenges influencing common pool resources more broadly.

Drivers of prohibited natural resource collection in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

“…In addition, people’s perceptions may be incomplete. Distrust between CF members, CF officials and CNP officials has been a barrier to gaining information regarding M. micrantha ( Sullivan et al 2017 ). Furthermore, our ecological surveys measured entire CFs using systematic sampling.…”

Buffer Zone Community Forestry in Nepal: Examining Tenure and Management Outcomes

“…Bird species diversity has also been recorded in BZFCs (Wagle 2009). Sullivan et al (2017) noted the critical role of BFCFs to manage the threats of invasive plants, particularly Mikania.…”

Moving from Latent to Manifest Problem: Trajectories Across Scientific and Public Salience of Invasive Alien Species

“…Responsibility for invasive alien species management is divided across multiple levels, from the European Union all the way down to water authorities and municipalities (European Parliament, Council of the European Union 2014 ; Provincie Gelderland 2018 ). In addition to these de jure institutions, de facto institutions often emerge to complement the government policies (Sullivan et al 2017 ). If community actors feel that government policy is not sufficient, they may develop their own initiatives, as local Landcare groups have done for the invasive weed serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) in southeastern Australia (Marshall et al 2016 ).…”