Decentralized Governance for Sustainable Development

Abstract

India has devolved considerable powers to local self-government institutions in rural areas, through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). PRIs have a three-tier structure with gram sabha and gram panchayat as the basic unit, which are usually at the level of a village. Biodiversity management is a multilayered process, and the involvement of local communities in conservation planning should be at the core of conservation initiatives. The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has taken the initiative to encourage and empower the local self-governments to effectively conserve biodiversity for a sustainable future. In Kerala, Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) have been authorized to function as “environmental watch groups.” This chapter highlights the programs for biodiversity conservation implemented at local level in Kerala, India, by the BMCs. The chapter presents five different case studies and explores the process of BMC formulation and tries to analyze the factors that facilitate or hinder conservation actions at local level.