Local government institutions and environment management in South Asia: A case study of India and Bhutan

Abstract

The need for environmental conservation is recognized globally. This paper makes an attempt to assess the role of Local Government Institutions in the protection of environment in India and Bhutan. Among different levels of environmental administration in India and Bhutan, the most effective is the presence of local government institutions for the efficient utilization and management of natural resources. This paper discusses relevant policies and practices promoted by these institutions for preserving and protecting environment. At the local government level, there are several mechanisms and agencies through which information regarding public welfare and environment conservation can be communicated to the villagers. These can be used to create the much-needed awareness about the protection of the ecology and the environment. This paper examines how the response to environment management can be strengthened with the better involvement of the institutions and the role of these institutions in some specific contexts of environment management and protection.