Administrative Behavior in Forest Governance Reform in India: A Preliminary Report on Case Studies from Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

"This paper reports preliminary results from a study of administrative behavior in the implementation of forest governance reforms in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The focus here is on evidence collected between August and October, 2010 from fieldwork in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. I begin with an examination of the organization of the Forest Department in the region, and continue with an examination of how this organization effects policy implementation. I find qualitative differences in the kinds ofinteraction accompanying different policies and policy reforms. Policies that are implemented effectively empower powerful and competent actors to do things that are in their interest. This includes many of the policy changes that were required by the Supreme Court as part of the Godavarman Case. By contrast, many of the policy changes required as part of Joint Forest Management and the Forest Rights Act were not implemented effectively, since there was no empowered constituency for these changes at the local level."