Household-Level Determinants of Participation in Forest Support Programmes in the Miombo Landscapes, Zambia

Moses Kazungu,Sven Günter,Gillian Kabwe,Eliza Zhunusova

doi:10.3390/su13052713

Abstract

The need to protect forest resources from unsustainable, yet rational, human actions has attracted global attention. This is because smallholder dependence on forests can degrade forest resources and cause deforestation. While efforts to understand forest programmes and motivations to protect forests have increased in recent decades, there remains a limited understanding of household factors affecting participation in forest support programmes, especially in the context of high-pressure areas, such as the Miombo woodlands. This study was conducted in the North-Western, Copperbelt and Eastern Province of Zambia. In each province, we selected landscapes consisting of protected and non-protected forest areas. We administered structured interviews to 1123 households and used logistic regression to estimate determinants of participation. We found that better education, landholding size, increased share of forest income, cash crops and non-farm income, and access to forests and markets have a negative impact on participation in forest support programmes. Being located in landscapes with protected areas was positively associated with participation. We suggest that, in order to increase participation, forest programmes should focus on households with low levels of education, limited livelihood opportunities, and poor access to markets. Besides, programmes should provide incentives, including support for farm inputs and at the same time encourage reforestation and agroforestry methods.

Highlights

There is a consensus among scholars and policymakers that forests need to be protected from unsustainable, yet rational, human actions [1,2,3,4]
This study examined the impact of household-level factors on participation in forest support (FS) programmes in high-pressure areas such as the Miombo woodlands
Households are the de facto managers of forest resources, whose decisions to participate depend on the economic costs and benefits of participation in forest programmes

Summary

Introduction

There is a consensus among scholars and policymakers that forests need to be protected from unsustainable, yet rational, human actions [1,2,3,4]. This is of particular concern for tropical and subtropical dry forests because of the continuous dependence on forest resources and forestlands’ conversion to agricultural fields [5,6,7]. The protected area strategy emphasises strict control to access and allows for sustainable human use [20].

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion