This paper addresses the broad question ofwhere to locate authority for tropical biodiversity conservation considering: (1) community-based natural research management (CBNRM) overreaches the indisputable place of local communities in tropical conservation efforts; (2) the most promise for tropical conservation and development is offered by multiple layers of nested institutions; (3) the greatest challenge for implementation of multiple layer designs is weakness at all levels of existing tropical institutions; and (4) rehabilitating such institutions, facilitating ongoing coordination among them, and introducing new and appropriate institutional designs will require significant international and national policy reorientation and greater commitment of financial and technical assistance.