THE COST OF IGNORING RULES: FOREST CONSERVATION AND RURAL LIVELIHOOD OUTCOMES IN MADAGASCAR

ABSTRACT

In this article. I argue that the lack of attention paid to the rules affecting how resource users exploit and manage the forests on which their livelihood depends has hindered the promulgation of sound policies aimed at securing rural populations' livelihood and biodiversity conservation. Looking at how state and community rules are implemented at the community level in each of the four scenarios of a “win—lose” matrix. I suggest that to be successful conservation strategies, must integrate and use local communities' institutional capital as starling points. To appreciate the complexity of the deforestation problem, the institutional elements that merge with demographic and economic factors must be examined. This claim is relevant to the Madagascar cases examined in this analysis and, in all likelihood, to other parts of the world where issues of environmental and socio-economic degradation need to be addressed.

Key words:

• institutional capital
• compliance
• Madagascar