The Struggle to Understand: Elinor Ostrom and Institutions for the Governance of Forests

Abstract

"Like no other resource system, forests have been central to the application of Elinor Ostrom’s intellectual enterprise. This essay is a modest attempt to highlight, in my own estimation,some of Ostrom’s contributions to an improved understanding of how forestry institutions work and to options for problem-solving within the forestry arena. I begin with a consideration of Ostrom’s well-known theoretical contribution before moving on to highlight some empirical applications and policy implications. I draw heavily from the work of Ostrom and her colleagues in the IFRI research program, and also attempt to locate CIFORs own work within this effort."