Collective choice and community forestry management in Mexico: An empirical analysis
利用墨西哥社区林业调查数据，研究发现社区论坛中吸纳本地代表和外部技术专家参与，通过信息传播和管理计划审批能提升规则遵守度，进而改善森林状况。
Abstract Democratic participation has increasingly become a natural resource management policy approach for governments around the world. Yet, its effective application across stakeholder groups remains a challenge. With original survey data from Mexico, a country with extensive common property forestland, we assess the effect of incorporating both local representation and outside technical expertise on forest management. Descriptive statistics show how existing community governance accommodates local management decision-making. The empirical analysis constructs and compares multidimensional indices for rule conformance and forest conditions with measures of local and professional service providers' involvement in community forums. Regression results suggest that active use of these forums for disseminating information and seeking management plan approval improves rule conformance, which, in turn, leads to better forest conditions.