Institutional Arrangements and Collaborative Forest Governance in Gargeda State Forest, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Understanding forest governance requires examining the interactions among stakeholders and the institutional arrangements that shape resource management. This study investigates collaborative forest governance in the Gargeda State Forest, Western Ethiopia, focusing on the institutional arrangement, social interaction, and logistical challenges that constrain effective management. Network analysis, conducted with Gephi 0.10.1, was used to map and visualize relationships among government agencies, NGOs, and local social groups. The resulting network comprises 27 nodes and 55 edges, with a moderately sparse structure (density = 0.156). Government institutions dominate the network (66.7% of nodes), driving policy formulation, resource allocation, and decision-making, while local social groups (18.5%) contribute to community-based management, and NGOs (14.8%) act as intermediaries linking grassroots actors with policymakers. Analysis of edge strengths reveals moderate ties (pink, 57.9%, weight = 2) forming the operational backbone, strong ties (green, 13.8%, weight = 3) indicating substantial cooperation, weak ties (purple, 12.8%, weight = 1) requiring reinforcement, and the strongest ties (blue, 15.5%, weight = 4) reflecting deeply integrated partnerships and shared leadership. Challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, political instability, and over-reliance on central actors like REDD+ hinder effective governance. Integrating traditional and formal governance systems, enhancing decentralized leadership, and strengthening stakeholder collaboration are essential for promoting sustainable and equitable management. Addressing these gaps through inclusive decision-making, infrastructure development, and capacity building could foster a more sustainable and equitable governance model for the protected natural Forest.