An institutional analysis of change in China's forest policy 1949-2009

This thesis will study institutional change in China's forest ownership following the Communist Revolution in 1949. This study will divide the history of forest land tenure reform in China into four eras and provide an extended study of the political rhetoric and regulations related to these forest land tenure regimes. Then the thesis will provide two longitudinal regression analysis models to test the impacts of institutional change on forestry in China. Finally, a general analysis of the credibility of the formal institutions of forest land tenure in China will be considered.