What Makes Some Project Induced Watershed Management User Groups More Active than Others?

Shrestha, B. and G. B., Thapa (2002). What Makes Some Project Induced Watershed Management User Groups More Active than Others? Banko Jankari 12 (2), Kathmandu, Nepal: Department of Forest Survey and Research.

Most often externally induce local institutions have failed with the withdrawal of support. This raises a question, what makes some user groups more active than others? This article examines organizational structure and function, resource mobilization and support system of project induced watershed management user groups. Collective action due to common interest leads to better participation of users in activating group functions including regular operation and maintenance. With such initiatives, the active user groups have accrued apparent benefits. Active groups have better training and exposures. The activeness of a group largely depends on how far its members benefit personally and / or directly from collective actions. The article concludes that the externally induced collective actions that can not provide direct benefits to the users are not going to be regularly managed after the withdrawal of external support.