ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the economic and legal factors underlying the ecological tragedy, examines the local failure of national policies to remedy the problem exclusively by regulating consumption of ground cover and offers two tentative reform proposals that could marginally improve the situation. The analysis stresses the local side of the problem and the necessity for creating a local capacity to devise and implement solutions, including acceptable rules and effective rule enforcement procedures. The chapter discusses the local side of the problem and the necessity for creating a local capacity to devise and implement solutions, including acceptable rules and effective rule enforcement procedures. The wood stock and other components of the ground cover are subject to control by officials representing the Nigerien national community, rather than being owned individually by particular villagers. The wood stock is effectively a deregulated common property resource and, in the struggle to meet their daily needs, villagers rationally reject any responsibility for conservation.
