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PDF
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Type:
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Conference Paper |
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Author:
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Hoskins, Marilyn W. |
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Conference:
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Institutional Analysis and Development Mini-Conference and TransCoop Meeting |
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Location:
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Bloomington, Indiana |
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Conf. Date:
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December |
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Date:
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2002 |
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URI:
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https://hdl.handle.net/10535/9315
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Sector:
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Forestry
Social Organization |
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Region:
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North America |
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Subject(s):
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community forestry
decentralization
participatory management
deforestation
desertification
institutional analysis
forest management
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Abstract:
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"This paper is an about decentralizing a community forestry program. The program was centralized but focused on understanding and fostering participatory forestry and it changed to one that was itself managed in a participatory way. A number of donors funded this program, which was coordinated by a special unit in the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Several of the following characteristics gave this program its specific character: It created no new institutions but instead worked through existing institutions with compatible goals to those of community forestry and which contributed from their resources to join the program. It, therefore, did not disrupt ongoing activities or develop infrastructure or positions for professionals that would be unsustainable. This factor contributed to it being demand rather than supply driven. Facilitators, or FTPP focal people within those institutions, were dedicated to this approach so that the whole working team had a relatively homogenous set of goals. Because they designed the activities and handled the funding, they took over 'ownership' of the program and built strong commitment and social capital. The program was based on the philosophy of shared power and availability of information. Decentralization included local planning and financial management and power was shared both vertically and horizontally. Information about the entire program and the budget was transparent and available to all decision makers."
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