Participatory Exclusions, Community Forestry, and Gender: An Analysis for South Asia and a Conceptual Framework

Agarwal, Bina

doi:10.1016/s0305-750x(01)00066-3

Cited by 982 publications

(776 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This is manifest in women's lack of a role in public forums, their limited access to information about forest management, and in the heavy demands on their time within the household that limit their ability to actively participate in public life. Limited assets, formal education and confidence, which are also a product of social norms and power relations, further limit this participation (Agarwal 2001). Gender norms are expressed differently across social groups, with upper caste (Havyak) women being subject to more restrictive norms regarding mobility and participation in community affairs than other groups (Jewitt 2000;Agarwal 2001).…”

Section: Study Area and Peoplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, participatory approaches have been shown to help overcome common problems in natural resource management, including over-harvesting, unsanctioned logging and forest encroachment (Blomley et al 2008). Yet, patterns of exclusion within participatory research, social learning and joint forest management remain (Agarwal 2001). Egunyu and Reed (2015, p. 44) note that there is 'very little research that specifies who participates in activities that might encourage social learning and collective action' for natural resource management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, in the South Asian context, marginalized groups such as migrants, landless agricultural labourers, underprivileged castes or indigenous subgroups that are most dependent on forest products are often left out of joint forest management and related research initiatives (Agarwal 2001;McDougall et al 2013). These are serious shortcomings, not only due to concerns for social equity, but also because socially excluded, forest-dependent groups hold valuable and specific knowledge, skills and vested interests related to the forest that influence prospects for sustainable forest management (Agarwal 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Engaging local communities in social learning for inclusive management of native fruit trees in the Central Western Ghats, India

Hegde¹,

Elias²,

Lamers³

et al. 2016

Forests, Trees and Livelihoods

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Participatory research and the social learning it supports are increasingly being used to improve forest management. Yet, the participation of women and other marginalized groups is often limited in these processes. This is a serious shortcoming, not only due to concerns for gender and social equity, but also because socially excluded, forest-dependent groups hold specific ecological knowledge, skills and interests that influence prospects for sustainable forest management. Carried out in India's Central Western Ghats, this study explores the potential participatory research holds for engaging communities in a socially inclusive learning process that can support forest management. Participatory tools -resource mapping, Four Cell Analysis, seasonal fruit calendar, and seasonal activity -were used to elicit information on native fruit tree diversity, phenology, agronomy, uses and marketing. We discuss the benefits of this research set-up which promoted interactions among individuals from different groups, who came to experience a common group identity. The notion of contact zones -where different cultures or groups meet and engage with each other in ways that can reduce conflicts or redress asymmetrical power relations -guides our analysis. We demonstrate that the contact zone created through research process facilitated multi-directional information sharing and supported collective actions for forest management.

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Section: Study Area and Peoplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Engaging local communities in social learning for inclusive management of native fruit trees in the Central Western Ghats, India

Hegde¹,

Elias²,

Lamers³

et al. 2016

Forests, Trees and Livelihoods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many existing studies have also been highly concerned with questions of equity and distribution in participation (Agarwal, 2001;Botchway, 2001;Teklu & Asefa, 1999). Land and livestock holding are commonly used as indicators of economic status and its variations (Adhikari, Di Falco, & Lovett, 2004;Kumar, 2002).…”

Section: Studied Variables Data and Analytical Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decentralization and Participation: The Governance of Common Pool Resources in Nepal’s Terai

Agrawal

Gupta²

2005

World Development

316

186

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Summary. -Decentralization has emerged as an important instrument of environmental and development policy in the last two decades. Presumed benefits of environmental policy decentralization depend in significant measure on broad participation in the programs that governments create to decentralize decision making related to resource management. This paper uses data from protected areas in Nepal's Terai to examine who participates in environmental decentralization programs. On the basis of our statistical analysis, we highlight the fact that the likelihood of participation in community-level user groups is greater for those who are economically and socially better-off. We also find that individuals who have greater access to and who visit government offices related to decentralization policies more often are also more likely to participate in user groups created by state officials. Finally, we find a negative correlation between education and levels of participation. Our study and analysis support the argument that for decentralization policies to be successful on equity issues, it is important to build institutional mechanisms that encourage poorer and more marginal households to access government officials, improve access to educational opportunities, and create incentives to promote more interactions between less powerful rural residents and government officials.

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“…(Agarwal, 2001;Agrawal, 1999). Social inequities can transfer into power inequities that create a payoff differential.…”

Section: Complexities Of Heterogeneitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity and Common Pool Resources: Collective Management of Forests in Himachal Pradesh, India

Naidu

2005

SSRN Journal

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Abstract:In the past two decades, theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that communities of resource users are capable of overcoming social dilemmas, and are capable of creating and sustaining institutions designed to prevent degradation of common pool natural resources. However, there is incomplete understanding of what motivates this group-level behavior and why some communities are better adept at solving collective action problems than others. This paper specifically explores the role of group heterogeneity in collective action among forest communities in the northwestern Himalayas. Heterogeneity can have important social and ecological consequences and understanding both its nature and effects can help in neutralizing the negative and enhancing the positive. Based on data from 54 forest communities in Himachal Pradesh, India, this paper finds that heterogeneity has at least three dimensions: wealth, identity and interest, and each may significantly affect collective actions related to natural resource management. However, their effects are far from simple and linear.Keywords: common pool resources, group outcomes, heterogeneity, forests JEL Classification: D63, D71, H41, Q23, Q57 This paper explores the role of group heterogeneity in collective action among forest communities in northwestern Himalayas. Based on data from 54 forest communities in Himachal Pradesh, India, this paper finds that heterogeneity has at least three dimensions:wealth, social identity and interest in the resource, and each may significantly affect collective actions related to natural resource management. However, their effects are far from simple and linear. The empirical results suggest that cooperation need not depend on caste parochialism, that very high levels of wealth heterogeneity can reduce cooperation, and that there can be a divergence between ability and incentive to cooperate which reduces the level of cooperation in the community.

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Participatory Exclusions, Community Forestry, and Gender: An Analysis for South Asia and a Conceptual Framework

Cited by 982 publications

References 19 publications

Engaging local communities in social learning for inclusive management of native fruit trees in the Central Western Ghats, India

Engaging local communities in social learning for inclusive management of native fruit trees in the Central Western Ghats, India

Decentralization and Participation: The Governance of Common Pool Resources in Nepal’s Terai

Heterogeneity and Common Pool Resources: Collective Management of Forests in Himachal Pradesh, India

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