ABSTRACT
Public participation in environmental policy is supported by national and international agencies and organizations, including the United Nations. An extensive literature exists on the theme, particularly in developing world settings. Much of this is connected with the field of common pool resources, focusing on designing incentives and institutions to combine sustainable livelihood activities and conservation practices (Ostrom 1990). This literature has been influential in establishing best practices and developing innovative incentive mechanisms to promote community participation and overcome related problems of environmental degradation and poverty.
