A study of the Armenian institutions of forest governance: tragedy of the Armenian forest commons

Abstract

The study employs the conceptual framework of the tragedy of the commons to analyze the rapid deforestation taking place in Armenia. The primary focus of the research is the institutional framework of forest governance of Armenia. The research aims to identify institutional ills and defects that allow for the tragedy of Armenian forest commons. Particularly, the study analyzes the correlation between a) the centralized institutions of forest governance and high rates of illegal logging b) centralized system of forest governance and the existing corruption risks in the sector. My research dwells on the current prominent theoretical body on the tragedy of the commons and the policy strategies of averting the phenomenon which advocates inclusion of the local communities in the forest management as a means of prevent overuse of the forest commons. Elaborating on that approach, this study comes up with policy recommendation to decentralize the system of forest governance in Armenia and actively engage the local population in the decision making process in the forest sector.