Forest governance and collective action problems in the upper Angat watershed forest reserve

• Main Author: Bacila, Edcelyn Magay
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Forest reserves—Philippines—Angat—Management; Forest management—Philippines—Angat—Citizen participation; Forest degradation—Philippines—Angat; Development Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6611; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=13595&context=etd_masteral
• Institution: De La Salle University

Collective action problems are evident in the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve. These are seen as threats to forest governance in the area. The presence of multiple levels of government in forest governance serves as an avenue of collaboration as well as a source of conflict. In addition, the variety of institutions and stakeholders present in the forest reserve also pose threats and possibilities. The openness of the forest reserve makes it harder to manage, govern and sustain. Hence, there is a need for an effective forest governance mechanism. Using collective action theory, the study examined the influence of collective action problems and social dilemmas in the forest reserve and its stakeholders. This study discussed, in particular, the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve. The research examined the reason why these collective action problems and social dilemmas exist in the forest reserve despite the presence of laws and institutions that govern the forest reserve. The study expounded on the idea that different stakeholders and institutions had a direct impact in the process of governance in solving collective action problems and social dilemmas existing in the forest reserve. In particular, the study argued that (1) collective action problems and social dilemmas existed in the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve due to the unequal distribution of benefits and incentives between stakeholders and the presence of a higher incentive of deviating from existing laws and mandates; (2) the existence of collective action problems and social dilemmas in the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve is evidently seen in the prevalent illegal logging cases in the forest reserve and the continued existence of the barangay within the watershed; and (3) the participation and collaboration of different stakeholders in addressing collective action problems and social dilemmas through solution mechanisms showed possibilities in overcoming collective action problems in the forest reserve.