Presents case studies of the effects of devolution policies on the management of forests in several Asian countries. This book demonstrates that devolution policies increased governmental control over the management of local resources and did so at lower cost. It is useful to forest and other natural resource managers. 'This is an important book. Devolution of responsibility and authority for forest management has become a worldwide tred in forest policy. This book presents a well-documented and well-argued case showing that devolution often has the opposite effect from that intended'. R.J Fisher, Australian Mekong Resource Centre, University of Sydney. International Pest Control, March-April 2004.