The manifestation of institutional bricolage and community forest management outcomes: insights from four socio-ecological settings in Nepal

Institutional bricolage has gained attention in the global south, albeit limited evidence in community forestry. This study characterizes forest resource appropriation practices, analyzes bricolage manifestations around timber and NTFPs, and assesses their outcomes across four regions of Nepal. Using 342 semi-structured interviews, 38 focus group discussions, 61 key informant interviews, and policy document reviews, the findings reveal: (i) geographic variations in resource appropriation practices, with selection felling prevalent in the Mountains and an irregular shelter-wood system in the Terai; (ii) aggregation and articulation were common in the mountains for subsistence products, while alteration was more prevalent in the Terai for commercial products; and (iii) aggregation and alteration yielded mixed outcomes, whereas erosion consistently led to negative outcomes. This study advances critical institutionalism by highlighting how these bricolage processes manifest and shape forest management outcomes in Nepal. We call for further studies on the socio-political determinants of institutional bricolage manifestations.