In terms of outcomes, women’s participation significantly
predicts levels of disruptive conflict—that is, forest associations
with a higher proportion of women councilors are less likely to
experience disruptive conflict. In addition, forest associations that
have had women councilors in the past are also less likely to
experience disruptive conflict. Agarwal (2010) argues that issues
often arise in forest management institutions that affect women,
such as firewood shortages, and those women need to speak up in
such instances to address the conflict. Our results suggest that
when there are women councilors these conflicts are less likely to
arise and are also less likely to become disruptive. Forest
association actions can address these issues if women make up
part of the council to raise concern