Re-building historical commons: How formal institutions affect participation in community forests in Galicia, Spain

There has been considerable research studying how the formal institutionalisation of community forests affects participation local communities. This paper studies a historical commons in Galicia order to provide insight into institutions are enmeshed with forestry logic and this shapes Europe. More specifically, we offer an alternative explanation for low levels participation, which goes beyond usual argument abandonment traditional activities. We use institutional bricolage framework understand causal mechanisms by shape patterns (both exclusion-inclusion dynamics type namely strategic or affective). Our results show that, during first period implementation, most powerful commoners aggregated exclusionary capture benefits. Formal incentivised engagement exchange ‘share’. Later, educated accessed governing board more inclusive that allowed affective higher commons. created new relations while creating exclusions. conclude highlighting responsibility State regional government installing profit-seeking extractive mentality among commoners, is problematic active participation. • Institutionalisation promoted practices Strategic motivates passive commoners. Active motivated commoners’ relations. Commoners feeling excluded 'articulate' tradition justify their non-participation. A patriarchal family was ‘aggregated’ excluding women.