Decision-making arrangements in community-based watershed management in northern Thailand

This article examines four case studies of community-based watershed management with emphasis on their operational decision-making arrangements. All the case studies established community-based regimes as a result of declining resource abundance, but differ in their operational rules, administration, effectiveness, and satisfaction among stakeholders. Even though legally the watersheds ave state property, 73% of the villagers consider them communal property. Almost all villagers are aware of the community rules governing use, with 88% voluntarily accepting the rules and over 90% thinking that they are appropriate. Rule violation by members is seen as the greatest threat to continued existence in three of the communities. The communities are compared against seven design principles associated with more robust institutional characteristics for common property resources. In general, as anticipated smaller watersheds close to the communities with clearly demarcated boundaries and fewer users and with high individual involvement in decision making are more robust.