Abstract
Loss of tropical forests and changes in land-use/land-cover are of growing concern worldwide. Although knowledge exists about the institutional context in which tropical forest loss is embedded, little is known about the role of social institutions in influencing regeneration of tropical forests. In the present study we used Landsat images from southern Madagascar from three different years (1984, 1993 and 2000) and covering 5500 km2, and made a time-series analysis of three distinct large-scale patterns: 1) loss of forest cover, 2) increased forest cover, and 3) stable forest cover. Institutional characteristics underlying these three patterns were analyzed, testing the hypothesis that forest cover change is a function of strength and enforcement of local social institutions. The results showed a minor decrease of 7% total forest cover in the study area during the whole period 1984–2000, but an overall net increase of 4% during the period 1993–2000. The highest loss of forest cover occurred in a low human population density area with long distances to markets, while a stable forest cover occurred in the area with highest population density and good market access. Analyses of institutions revealed that loss of forest cover occurred mainly in areas characterized by insecure property rights, while areas with well-defined property rights showed either regenerating or stable forest cover. The results thus corroborate our hypothesis. The large-scale spontaneous regeneration dominated by native endemic species appears to be a result of a combination of changes in precipitation, migration and decreased human population and livestock grazing pressure, but under conditions of maintained and well-defined property rights. Our study emphasizes the large capacity of a semi-arid system to spontaneously regenerate, triggered by decreased pressures, but where existing social institutions mitigate other drivers of deforestation and alternative land-use.
Highlights
Loss of tropical forests and changes in land-use/land-cover affect climate and environmental change at global scales and are of growing concern worldwide [e.g. 1,2]
The local social institutional context is increasingly emphasized in analyses of drivers of forest cover change [6,7,8,9], with stable forest cover often found to be a function of strength and enforcement of local social institutions [9]
We have some knowledge about the institutional context in which tropical forest loss is embedded [2,6,10], little is known about the role of social institutions in influencing rates of tropical forest regeneration, especially at the local scale [12]
Summary
Loss of tropical forests and changes in land-use/land-cover affect climate and environmental change at global scales and are of growing concern worldwide [e.g. 1,2]. Estimates of tropical forest loss and changes in land-cover are still uncertain and a 50% margin of error appears possible [1,3]. Are rates of deforestation uncertain, but there is little knowledge about tropical forest regeneration rates [3]. Achard et al [1] estimated that at a global level, the annual regrowth area of humid tropical forest is 1 million ha compared with the annual forest loss of 5.8 million ha. We have some knowledge about the institutional context in which tropical forest loss is embedded [2,6,10], little is known about the role of social institutions (sensu Ostrom [11]) in influencing rates of tropical forest regeneration, especially at the local scale [12]
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