Decentralization without Accountability: Power and Authority over Local Forest Governance in Indonesia

Abstract

"The decentralization of forest resource management authority to local governments has resulted in a situation in which district governments are neither accountable upward to the central government nor downward to the local people. The decentralization of authority without appropriate devolution processes or control mechanisms has resulted in the decentralization of opportunistic behavior that is in direct opposition to the development of good local forest governance. The delegation of authority has in fact resulted in the decentralization of power to the private sector. This paper examines some of the counterproductive impacts of decentralization, and explores possible mechanisms to prevent or minimize negative behaviors in order to support better accountability in local forest governance."