Revisiting the success of co‐management in forest protected areas of Bangladesh: Untangling the interplay of power, participation, and community empowerment

This narrative review critically assesses the implementation and purported success of co‐management in forest management in Bangladesh. Co‐management has gained global popularity, celebrated for its participatory approach to natural resource conflict resolution, yet critiqued for potential design fl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental policy and governance 2024-12, Vol.34 (6), p.649-662
Main Author: Baten, Mohammed Abdul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptive management
collaboration
Community involvement
Community power
Conflict resolution
conflicts
Decision making
Design defects
Empowerment
forest co‐management
Forest management
Forestry
Institutionalization
Natural resources
Participation
Popularity
Power
power asymmetry
Power elite
Protected areas
protected areas of Bangladesh
Renewable energy
Resource management
Social capital
Success
Susceptibility
Sustainability
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Summary:This narrative review critically assesses the implementation and purported success of co‐management in forest management in Bangladesh. Co‐management has gained global popularity, celebrated for its participatory approach to natural resource conflict resolution, yet critiqued for potential design flaws, susceptibility to elite capture, and perpetuating power imbalances in predominantly top‐down management cultures. Despite two decades of application and reports of positive outcomes in managing forest protected areas of Bangladesh, concerns persist regarding the authenticity of its success and sustainability, particularly in terms of power dynamics and effective community participation in decision‐making processes. The review delves into these aspects, revealing instances where successes might be superficial, overlooking the underlying issues of power disparity among stakeholders. It highlights the crucial role of enhancing social capital within co‐management frameworks to foster institutionalization and sustainability. Recommendations include advancing robust collaboration and communication, alongside the adoption of adaptive management practices to navigate the complex interplay of natural, social, and institutional challenges.
ISSN:1756-932X
1756-9338
DOI:10.1002/eet.2114