Abstract
Local success stories of sustainable forest management can inspire scientists and decision-makers. This article analyses the traditional 'Adat' institution that plays a role in the management of Grand Forest Park 'Herman Yohannes', in the Western part of Timor where the Adat forest management regulation has been formally restored. The original set of design principles for sustainable management of common pool resources of Elinor Ostrom (1990) has been used in this study as an analytical framework for understanding the role of the Adat institution in respect to the forest. In the park, the local community applies Adat for protection and management of the forest that has been its home for centuries. It appears that Ostrom's design principles can be identified in the current Adat institution and play a role in the sustainable management of the forest. Although many other variables can lead to success or failure of institutions, the original (internal) design principles are still valuable as a practical tool for building institutions that are - under certain conditions - able to sustain common pool resources. The findings confirm the importance of traditional institutions in successful forest management. The study recommends that decision-makers take into account existing traditional management systems that have shown long term functionality.
Highlights
Institutions within traditional communities have received much attention in the debate about sustainable development, for the sustainable management of local natural resources
The original design principles have been used as an analytical framework for an empirical case study of the ‘Adat’ institution that is involved in the management of Grand Forest Park ‘Herman Yohannes’, in the Western part of Timor
The objective of our study is to explore which role the design principles play in a traditional institution that guides community life including forest management
Summary
Institutions within traditional communities have received much attention in the debate about sustainable development, for the sustainable management of local natural resources. Researchers have pursued the generic aim of finding institutional arrangements that could enhance sustainable management of (natural) common pool resources. The work of Elinor Ostrom has strongly contributed to this discussion. From her we take the concept of Common Pool Resource (CPR), defined as ‘a valued human made or natural resource or facility, that is available to more than one person and subject to overuse’ (Potetee and Ostrom 2002). Not meant as a panacea for handling the problems of natural resources (Ostrom, 2007), the original principles still have an important value as a practical analytical tool for understanding institutions
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