ABSTRACT
One threat came from the additional funds provided under the Government’s (and often donor-supported) efforts to implement the JFM activities through the creation of ‘new’ Van Panchayats. These new organizations were not being created in response to the needs felt by local residents but, instead, were really supply driven. As such they often ignored the sorts of the design principles put forward by Professor Ostrom. Secondly, the Forest Department was simultaneously advocating creation of Village Forest Committees tied explicitly to the lowest level of local government, the Gram Sabhas.7 Furthermore, the choice of eligible villages and creation of the Committees were apparently strongly influenced by the Forest Department. These efforts had the effect of undermining the existing and long-standing Van Panchayats.8
