Can community monitoring save the commons? Evidence on forest use and displacement
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
ISSN
0027-8424
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
To halt deforestation, communities are increasingly being given the authority to manage their own forests. Although standard economic theory predicts that community management leads to overexploitation, field studies have reported that communities can sustainably manage their forests if specific conditions are present. One condition that is correlated with successful common pool forest management is community-led monitoring of the forest. However, whether such monitoring causes improvements in forest conditions is unclear. Using a randomized controlled trial, we provide causal evidence about the impact of community-led monitoring on forest use. Unlike prior studies, we estimate the effects of monitoring on both monitored and unmonitored forests. The results suggest that monitoring may simply displace forest loss to unmonitored forests, rather than reduce it.
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Volume
118
Number
29
Subject(s)
Division(s)