ABSTRACT
Forest decentralization policy consists of the transfer of some central government powers to local political institutions. Its intended outcomes include greater efficiency, equity and justice in access to resources and service provision at the local level (Bako-Arifari, 1997), as well as greater democracy, mass participation and proper representation of marginalized groups such as women (Meinzen-Dick and Knox, 1999; Ribot, 2006). Decentralization is expected to give marginalized groups more influence on local policy and forest resource management because open, participatory decision-making works in favour of equity (Ostrom, 1990; Ribot and Larson, 2004) and leads to ‘greater responsiveness to citizens, improved decision-making, and improved efficiency in service delivery’ (Parry, 1997, p211).
