Differential interests within user groups ingored. Forest Department staff still directing most management operations. Group agreement is more likely to collapse where there are more than 30-40 members, but tasks cannot be performed effectively once group size falls below a minimum threshold. Consensus about who are the users in terms of both customary and legal user rights is essential prior to collective action. Investment in the resource Investment in the resource leads to a greater incentive to protect only as long as there is confidence in retaining control over future benefits.
Inbuilt flexibility is needed to respond to changes in resource or economic environments.
The more noticeable is cheating, the better the chances of success. Most individuals affected by operational rules can participate in modifying them. Monitoring Monitors, who actively audit both the resource and the behaviour of users, are accountable to the users and may themselves be users. Conflict resolution mechanisms Users and their officials have rapid access to low-cost local arenas to resolve conflict among users or between users and officials. Residents of Manakpur Thakurdas, the major group of non-members who used the forests for fodder grass, raised objection to this arrangment when the question of forest rights was discussed.