Beyond 'empty' forms of formalization: The credibility of a renewed attempt at forest titling in Southwest China

被引:12
作者
Krul, Kees [1 ]
Ho, Peter [2 ,3 ]
机构
[1] Delft Univ Technol, Fac Technol Policy & Management, Delft, Netherlands
[2] Zhejiang Univ, Sch Publ Affairs, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, Peoples R China
[3] London Sch Econ, Dept Int Dev, London, England
基金
欧洲研究理事会; 美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
Formalization; Credibility thesis and theory; Empty institution; Forest reform; FAT Framework; China; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA; TENURE REFORM; LAND RIGHTS; INSTITUTIONS; MANAGEMENT; CONFLICT; THESIS;
D O I
10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.01.015
中图分类号
P9 [自然地理学]; K9 [地理];
学科分类号
0705 ; 070501 ;
摘要
Whereas the prospective benefits of formalization programs are well-understood and received, less attention has been placed on the feasibility of such actions. This paper studies titling under China's Collective Forest Tenure Reform. We employ the Formal, Actual, and Targeted (FAT) Institutional Framework, based on the 'credibility thesis', to examine whether titling increases tenure credibility. To do so, we draw upon interviews and surveys collected in the Wuling Mountain Area (Southwest China), and compare formal policy objectives to households' targeted (desired) preferences and actual forest rights. Our findings show divergences between formal and targeted versus actual rights. While titles were widely issued, socially supported, and farmers deemed boundaries and plot sizes clear, there is a paradox: (i) half of forest titles did not record boundaries; (ii) boundaries were not uniformly recorded; (iii) no on-site surveying had taken place; (iv) plot data were based on replicating older data, estimates, or averages; (v) titles had not been issued in contested areas; (vi) farmers had a weak legal understanding of ownership and lease rights. We argue that due to pressure from the central government to complete titling in five years, forest registration has emerged as an 'empty institution': an institutional compromise where spatial complexities were disregarded and neglected during implementation. Although seemingly credible at present, such outcomes of formalization bear the risk that future changes could easily dampen the reform's institutional efforts and intentions.
引用
收藏
页码:46 / 57
页数:12
相关论文
共 79 条
[1]  
Abdulai R.T., 2006, RICS Research Paper Series, V6, P6
[2]  
[Anonymous], 2009, P FIG WORLD BANK C L
[3]  
[Anonymous], WILLF FORMALISING PR
[4]  
[Anonymous], 2017, EC DAILY
[5]  
[Anonymous], 2017, UNMAKING CHINAS DEV, DOI DOI 10.1017/9781316145616
[6]  
[Anonymous], GUAN GUOYOU LIN QUAN
[7]  
[Anonymous], 2017, SUSTAINABILITY BASEL, DOI DOI 10.3390/su9101885
[8]  
[Anonymous], PRELIMINARY STUDY CH
[9]  
[Anonymous], BA CI QUANG SENL ZIY
[10]  
[Anonymous], 2003, Local Forest management