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Decentralization and Environmental Conservation: Gender Effects From Participation in Joint Forest Management

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  • Agrawal, Arun
  • Yadama, Gautam
  • Andrade, Raul
  • Bhattacharya, Ajoy

Abstract

This paper analyzes how women’s participation affects institutional outcomes related to the decentralized governance of community forests in Madhya Pradesh, India. The analysis is based on data from a representative sample of 641 cases of joint forest management, India’s flagship program to involve communities in forest governance. We focus on two outcomes relevant for local livelihoods: control of illicit grazing and control of illicit felling in the forest. The paper statistically estimates the effects of women’s participation on outcomes, and also the source of this effect in terms of women’s representation in committees and action in protecting forests. We find that women’s participation has substantial positive effects on regulating illicit grazing and felling, even after controlling for the effects of a range of independent variables. We also find that the “action effect” is more important than the “representation effect,” confirming some major arguments advanced by feminist environmentalists. Our statistical results are robust to different specifications and provide considerable empirical support for promoting women’s participation in community-based protection of natural resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Agrawal, Arun & Yadama, Gautam & Andrade, Raul & Bhattacharya, Ajoy, 2006. "Decentralization and Environmental Conservation: Gender Effects From Participation in Joint Forest Management," CAPRi Working Papers 42494, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:capriw:42494
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.42494
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John McCarthy, 2000. "The Changing Regime: Forest Property and Reformasi in Indonesia," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 31(1), pages 91-129, January.
    2. Agrawal, Arun, 2001. "Common Property Institutions and Sustainable Governance of Resources," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 29(10), pages 1649-1672, October.
    3. Reddy, S. R. C. & Chakravarty, S. P., 1999. "Forest Dependence and Income Distribution in a Subsistence Economy: Evidence from India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(7), pages 1141-1149, July.
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    5. Adhikari, Bhim & Di Falco, Salvatore & Lovett, Jon C., 2004. "Household characteristics and forest dependency: evidence from common property forest management in Nepal," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 245-257, February.
    6. Richard Gauld, 2000. "Maintaining Centralized Control in Community‐based Forestry: Policy Construction in the Philippines," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 31(1), pages 229-254, January.
    7. Agarwal, Bina, 1994. "Gender and command over property: A critical gap in economic analysis and policy in South Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 22(10), pages 1455-1478, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Davis, Kristin E. & Negash, Martha, 2007. "Gender, wealth, and participation in community groups in Meru Central District, Kenya," CAPRi working papers 65, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Pandolfelli, Lauren & Meinzen-Dick, Ruth Suseela & Dohrn, Stephan, 2007. "Gender and collective action: A conceptual framework for analysis," CAPRi Working Papers 47667, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

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