Forest Conservation Activities Research Articles

Household Factors Affecting the Implementation of Forest Conservation Strategies: A Case of South Nandi Forest, Nandi County, Kenya

This study found out that the majority of the locals are not employed. They may end up encroaching into the forest for the activities that will generate some income for them. The majority of the locals earn less than US dollars 100 which are not enough to take care of their loved ones. Daily expenditure is not good enough to satisfy their needs which are likely to tempt them to encroach into the forest. The forest provides a good source of firewood since it is the source of fuel that the locals mostly use, thus inhibiting strategies that may lead to stopping them from over harvesting from the forest. The study found out that for forest conservation to be effective, more motivation is needed and more of training should be done to educate people about the importance of forests, the need to conserve them and how to conserve them. For better handling of the challenges on implementation of forest conservation measures, there should be full involvement of local community in forest conservation. Barazas are the ideal method of communication through which information regarding forest conservation is gotten and they should make sure that many people are involved in planning and implementation of forest conservation activities. With more efforts from the relevant authorities, it’s easy to converse the forest and make sure that tree planting is the best way of planning and implementation of forest conservation activities. Through forest conservation and proper management, the forest can be very beneficial to many that stay around without destroying it. The local authorities can use the available environmental groups to enlighten the community on the importance of forest conservation. The study found out deforestation through illegal logging, charcoal burning, and the encroachment of forests for human settlement and agriculture. These problems are compounded by illiteracy, poverty and rapid growth of the human population. Promoting awareness campaigns is the best to counter challenges in forest conservation. Men should not be taken to be sole decision makers, which in turn hinders the implementation of forest conservation measures. Women should be incorporated in the decision making process.

Forest conservation activities in Mount Brackett (Sacred Forest) in South West Mau forest, Kenya.

The study investigated forest conservation activities in Mt. Bracket (sacred forest) in South West Mau Forest. South West Mau Forest if found within central coordinates of 35° 38. 88ˈE and 0° 33. 00ˈS and an altitude of 1800 – 3000 m above sea level. Mt. Brackett was purposively chosen for study due to its religious and cultural benefits. Three transects were laid at 0-2 Km, 2-5 Km and over 5 Km parallel to the edge of forest and one study site selected from each transect. 225 household questionnaires were administered during the data collection by randomly identifying the first household (HH) in each study site and there after systematically selecting a HH after every third HH at an approximate distance of 300 m. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 12 package at significant test levels of P < 0.05. Sensitization on forest conservation (57.3%), research and policing (59.7%) and tree planting (64.0%) were the main forest conservation activities in the area. Chi-square test demonstrated that there was no significant association (P > 0.05) between forest conservation activities in Mt. Brackett forest and the study sites in all the transects. The paper recommends that households adjacent to forests need to be sensitized and educated on forest conservation especially through Community Forest Associations (CFAs).

COASTAL COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT STRATEGY AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL INFORMAL LEADERS

This article discusses the empowerment of coastal communities and the role of local informal leader in mangrove forest conservation. Mangrove forest has an ecological function of protecting the environment, including: resisting coastal abrasion, tsunamis, and breeding grounds for marine biota. Socio-economically, mangrove forest provides the beauty and comfort of the environment and is as learning facilities, so that they can be packaged as a destination for tourism. The condition of mangrove forest has been damaged but there have not been many results of conservation efforts that have been made. The conservation program is top-down and does not involve local community participation. In order to realize community participation in mangrove forest conservation an active and creative role is needed from informal leaders. This study uses a qualitative approach and is carried out in two districts, namely Jember and Banyuwangi Regencies. The result shows that local informal leaders have a strategic position, unique, respected, able to be role models and drivers of community activities so that coastal communities can jointly carry out mangrove forest conservation activities.
 Keywords: local informal leaders, community empowerment, participation, conservation, mangrove forests.

Living room conservation: a virtual way to engage participants in insect conservation

Through interactive gaming, virtual reality applied to butterfly and forest conservation activities can reach a broad audience and initiate a paradigm shift towards coexistence between humans and butterflies under urban settings. Butterfly World 1.0 is a serious game designed to teach players about butterflies and plants in dry forest ecosystems in the Florida Keys (USA). Tasks include butterfly and plant identification and the removal of an invasive ant species. The immersive virtual environment allows players to explore the forest without swarms of mosquitoes and oppressive heat present in the real environment. Rethinking a different way of communicating butterfly conservation and environmental stewardship through gaming, we can reach many who might otherwise remain untouched by traditional education routes. Virtual gaming, designed to educate the player through meaningful tasks and measurable outcomes, presents another avenue for direct knowledge acquisition and passive empathy through direct experiences.

Amazon Fund 10 Years Later: Lessons from the World’s Largest REDD+ Program

Results-Based Funding (RBF) for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has become an important instrument for channeling financial resources to forest conservation activities. At the same time, much literature on conservation funding is ambiguous about the effectiveness of existing RBF schemes. Many effectiveness evaluations follow a simplified version of the principal-agent model, but in practice, the relation between aid providers and funding recipients is much more complex. As a consequence, intermediary steps of conservation funding are often not accounted for in effectiveness studies. This research paper aims to provide a nuanced understanding of conservation funding by analyzing the allocation of financial resources for one of the largest RBF schemes for REDD+ in the world: the Brazilian Amazon Fund. As part of this analysis, this study has built a dataset of information, with unprecedented detail, on Amazon Fund projects, in order to accurately reconstruct the allocation of financial resources across different stakeholders (i.e., governments, NGOs, research institutions), geographies, and activities. The results show that that the distribution of resources of the Amazon Fund lack a clear strategy that could maximize the results of the fund in terms of deforestation reduction. First, there are evidences that in some cases governmental organizations lack financial additionality for their projects, which renders the growing share of funding to this type of stakeholder particularly worrisome. Second, the Amazon Fund allocations did also not systematically have privileged the municipalities that showed the recent highest deforestation rates. rom the 10 municipalities with the higher deforestation rates in 2017, only 2 are amongst the top 100 receiving per/Ha considering the 775 municipalities from Legal Amazon. Third, the allocation of the financial resources from the Amazon Fund reflects the support of different projects that adopt significantly diverging theories of change, many of which are not primarily concerned with attaining further deforestation reductions. These results reflect the current approach adopted by the Amazon Fund, that do not actively seek areas for intervention, but instead wait for project submissions from proponents. As a consequence, project owners exert much influence on to the type of activities that they support how deforestation reduction is expected to be attained. The article concludes that the Amazon Fund as well as other RBF programs, should evolve over time in order to develop a more targeted funding strategy to maximize the long-term impact in reducing emissions from deforestation.

Combining carbon pricing with LPG subsidy for promoting preservation and restoration of Uttarakhand forests

This paper explores the role of REDD+ programs in promoting community led preservation and restoration of forests in the Himalayan region of India. As there often exists a direct conflict between generating carbon credits through forest conservation and forestry-based livelihood sustenance activities, we consider the role of cooking gas subsidy in reducing communities' reliance on forests. Findings indicate that a price of 13 USD per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent can induce a switch away from fuelwood to lpg based cooking and promote carbon sequestration. However, for such an incentive to work, a community's combined earnings from non-timber forest products, farm income and livestock-based earnings also play an important role. Curtailing access to forests can reduce forestry-based incomes, which in turn, would require a higher carbon price incentive. If no subsidy is provided, carbon price would need to be increased to 27 USD per ton for a complete switch away from fuelwood consumption. Finally, afforestation in degraded lands can be successfully undertaken by the community when restoration costs are low at 2000 INR per ha. However, restoration costs exceeding 10,000 INR per ha or high forest fire risks are not conducive to community led restoration efforts even with the REDD+ incentives.

Fencing and Forest Conservation: Attitudes of Local People Living Adjacent to Eastern Slopes of Mount Kenya

This study was carried out to assess local people attitudes on fencing and conservation management of Mount Kenya Forest. A random sampling technique was used in administering semi structured questionnaires to 100 households living adjacent to the forest. Secondary sources and key informants provided additional information through interviews. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and creation of themes. From the findings 57% of the respondents were male and 43% were female. Age distribution revealed that 6% of the respondents were between the ages of 21-30 years; 30% between the ages of 31-40 years; 24% between the ages of 41-50 years; 19% were aged 60 and above. The results showed that local communities are deriving myriad benefits from the forest which include; fuel wood, timber, honey, fruits, medicinal plants and water for community irrigation projects. Findings shows that seventy six percent (76%) of the respondents’ supported forest conservation while 24% supported de-gazettement of forest to create farmlands. Fence installation has led to reduced cases of crop and destruction of property and death/injury of livestock. The results further revealed that forest illegal activities have significantly declined, citing few cases of illegal harvesting of hardwood trees. Trust relationships between the local communities and other stakeholders participating in forest conservation and management activities have also been enhanced. It is recommended that to improve local communities’ attitude towards conservation there is need to increase the flow of both direct and indirect benefits to the local communities thus creating strong partnerships for effective conservation and management of the forest.

Socio-economic analysis of citizens’ participation in forest conservation in Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria

The general objective of this study was to assess the relationship between some socio-economic variables of the citizens and participation in forest conservation in Ikom zone of the Cross River State Agricultural Development Project, Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to describe some of the socio-economic variables of the people, ascertain the relationship between some socio-economic variables and their participation in forest conservation and to assess the level of participation of male and female citizens in forest conservation. Also, one research hypothesis was developed to test the level of participation of male and female citizens in forest conservation activities. A total of three hundred (300) respondents were randomly selected from three (3) local government areas (Boki, Ikom and Etung). Data were obtained with the aid of a validated questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using frequency count, percentages, chi-square and probit regression analysis. The result of the analysis revealed that a substantial proportion of the respondents were youth within the age range of 30-35 years and also educated, majority of the respondents had large family sizes (10-14 persons). Also, low income of 20,000 – 60,000 characterizes the status of most respondents with farming as their main occupation. It was also revealed that there is a significant variation between female and male level of participation in forest conservation, as men are more disposed to participate. The study therefore recommended that women should be trained to acquire necessary skills and credit facilities should be provided to citizens to motivate them to conserve the forest and its resources.Keywords: Citizens’ participation and forest conservation

Effect of community participation in forest conservation in Ikom Agricultural Zone of Cross River State

The effect of community participation in forest conservation via participatory approach has recently become a global strategy to development. The general objective of the study was to assess the effects of community participation in forest conservation in Ikom Agricultural zone of Cross River State. The specific objectives include; to access the need for community participation in forest conservation, to ascertain the benefit of community participation in forest conservation and to identify the areas and levels of community participation in forest conservation Ikom agricultural zone comprises of Boki, Abi, Etung, Ikom, Obubra and Yakurr local government areas. Three Local Government Areas, Boki, Etung and Ikom, were specifically used for the study because they are the main forest areas in the zone. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data for the study, and it was validated b y research experts in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, University of. Calabar, Calabar. The study respondents were selected using simple handling technique. Using the population frame of the various local government areas one hundred and one (101) respondents were selected from Boki local government area, eighty nine (89) from Etung local Government area and one hundred and ten (110) respondents from Ikom local Government area. A reliability test was conducted using split-half technique while Pearson product moment correlation was used to correlate the data obtained and a coefficient of rxy=80 was obtained. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, percentages and range. The result of the analysis showed that the local communities were in a better position to monitor the forest as they have better knowledge of indigenous methods of conservation of both plants and animal species in their forest. The result also showed a range of benefits derived from community participation which include; increase in food production, income generation and availability of raw materials. The study, therefore recommended that the government should design forest conservation programmes that are participatory, democratic and bottom-top, by integrating the local people in the planning, design and implementation of forest conservation activities. Keywords: Community Participation and Forest Conservation

Regeneración de Sebastiania commersoniana (Euphorbiaceae) en relación al ganado y la distancia al bosque en las sierras del centro de Argentina

Entender los requerimientos de regeneración de especies leñosas es importante para guiar prácticas de conservación y restauración de los bosques. Evaluamos el nicho de regeneración de Sebastiania commersoniana en relación a la vegetación, suelo y luminosidad comparando micrositios con y sin renoval en dos potreros con densidad de ganado alta y baja y a tres distancias del borde de los parches de bosque dominados por la especie: -2 m (dentro del bosque), 1 m y 3 m (fuera del bosque). También evaluamos la densidad de renovales y la proporción de tallos ramoneados. Los renovales se encontraron en micrositios con abundante vegetación herbácea y suelo poco compactado. La densidad de renovales fue un 134 % mayor con baja densidad de ganado que con alta fuera del bosque, sin diferencias dentro, y disminuyó marcadamente al aumentar la distancia al borde. La proporción de tallos ramoneados fue 13 veces mayor ante alta densidad de ganado que ante baja. Concluimos que el establecimiento puede verse favorecido en micrositios con vegetación y suelo conservados; que el reclutamiento de renovales puede encontrarse limitado a las cercanías de los parches de bosque, y que la reducción en densidad de ganado puede favorecer la regeneración de la especie.

The Role of Non-Timber Forest Products in Creating Incentives for Forest Conservation: A Case Study of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia

The fundamental issue in this study is to confirm whether or not the extraction of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) will encourage additional pro-conservation behavior from local people. This study clarifies three research questions as follows: what is the current activity of forest conservation in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary?; does the extraction of NTFPs create incentives for forest conservation?; and how much value do NTFPs have for incentives for forest conservation activities? Fieldworks were conducted in September 2015, March and April 2016, March 2017 in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary: participatory rural appraisals, key informant interviews, and structured questionnaire interviews with 288 households were randomly selected. Though this study confirmed that extraction of NTFPs is generally seen as the most positive influenced factors for local people’s participation towards forest conservation. Additionally, this study found that the annual value of NTFPs as incentives for forest conservation was around US$0.95/ha or US$95/km2 in Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia.

Improving Students and Community Participation in Preserving Mangrove Forest Bangkala Jeneponto South Sulawesi with a Constructivism based Booklet

Knowledge dominantly affects community attitudes and participation in mangrove forest conservation. One of the effective ways to solve issues related to preserving mangrove forest in Jeneponto regency is to distribute a constructivism based booklet which introduces the functions, impacts, and management of the forest. This study was conducted in Bangkala District, Jeneponto regency, South Sulawesi from 11 August 2016 to 25 December 2016. Purposive sampling was employed to determine the research sample based on certain consideration. Data was collected using: (1) a questionnaire to elicit responses from some students and community members in Bangkala Jeneponto South Sulawesi towards a booklet developed on the constructivist theory; (2) another questionnaire and interview schedule to obtain community perception on the forest conservation activities; (3) socialization activities at schools and community centers related to the importance of sustainable mangrove forest development. Research findings indicate that: (1) the students and the community members of Bangkala, Jeneponto, South Sulawesi have provided positive and supportive responses towards the development of the constructivism booklet; (2) the society members have realized the significance of mangrove forest development; (3) overall, the students and the community members in Bangkala, Jeneponto, South Sulawesi have been highly involved in preserving the mangrove forest. Assistance to sustain this participation; however, is still necessary.
 Keywords: Booklet, Mangrove Conservation, Students, Participation, Community.

Estrategias de recuperación de selvas en dos ejidos de Quintana Roo, México

Con el fin de contrarrestar el grave problema de la deforestación en Quintana Roo, en 1984 se creó el Plan Piloto Forestal que se desarrolló en la zona centro y sur del estado, el cual derivó en Sociedades Civiles como la Organización de Ejidos Productores Forestales de la Zona Maya. (OEPFZM. S.C.). A ella pertenecen los ejidos Naranjal y Santa María cuyas actividades de aprovechamiento y conservación de sus selvas se contemplan en un plan de manejo forestal basado en las características ecológicas y fisiográficas particulares de la selva mediana subperennifolia, el cual es elaborado por una Dirección Técnica Forestal. En el presente trabajo se presentan acciones del Plan de Manejo como la reforestación hecha con base en los datos del inventario, así como la participación campesina de los ejidos Naranjal y Santa María que son considerados como un ejemplo de esta Organización. En asamblea ejidal se establecieron las áreas forestales permanentes y la cuantificación de los aprovechamientos se realizó con los inventarios forestales para definir la existencia de volúmenes de “maderas preciosas” y de las “comunes” o tropicales “corrientes”. Una acción importante es la promoción del uso diversificado de la selva con especies no conocidas comercialmente, que están bien representadas y cuyas potencialidades de uso se llevan a cabo con estudios de anatomía y ensayos tecnológicos de la madera. La asesoría técnica, otros estudios interdisciplinarios, la capacitación campesina y la toma de decisiones en asambleas ejidales permiten el adecuado aprovechamiento y administración de los recursos forestales y su conservación.

Integration of different environmental valuation methods to estimate forest degradation in arid and semi-arid regions

ABSTRACTMany factors are aggravating desertification and degradation of forests such as urbanization, droughts, exploitation of natural resources and climate change. The study aims at estimating and assessing the degradation of forests in arid and semi-arid regions. This task however is complicated since the impact of the degradation will be in different forms such as loss of wood, soil erosion and lost recreational areas. Nevertheless the dynamic impact of the degradation is increasing the complexity of analysis since forest once lost is a reduction of value for all subsequent years. This study is considering the value of damages over time and it is using the concept of three environmental valuation methods to estimate the whole impact of the degradation: the habitat equivalency analysis (HEA), the productivity method and the benefit transfer method. The methods were applied to specific values of forests, depending on the best applicability, and the results combined to an overall value loss. The costs are calculated based on the year 2014 with two time horizons: 30 and 100 years. To apply the valuation approach, Jordan as an arid and semi-arid country is chosen. The result shows that the annual costs of environmental degradation of Jordanian forest areas equal about 0.14% of GDP in 2013, proving the enormous value lost to forest degradation or deforestation. The valuation approach can be transferred to other arid or semi-arid areas and stimulate forest conservation activities to prevent further degradation and to save the forest ecosystem services for the future.

Development Process of Coastal Forest Conservation Activities in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

Development Process of Coastal Forest Conservation Activities in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

Farmers’ land use decision-making in the context of changing land and conservation policies: A case study of Doi Mae Salong in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand

In Thailand, land use planning and policy decision-making were—and to some extent still are—organized in a hierarchical and disjointed fashion. This is also true for the utilization of public lands, including forest reserves in the northern uplands that are often settled by ethnic minorities. There are, however, instances of change in land policies and regulations and in the way decisions and plans are made. Doi Mae Salong (DMS) in Northern Thailand, where there is a trend towards land use for conservation purposes, is a case in point. This paper aims to explore decision-making by farmers in DMS in the context of changing land regulations and policies from the 1950s to the present. The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework, together with a historical perspective and with narratives on land management through time, were applied by using in-depth interviews of key informants and group farmers’ discussions as tools. The time period under investigation was divided into three periods of change: The first period, before the year 1960, was an era of security concern. In contrast, the second period, from 1961 to 1996, was an era of emerging conservation priorities. Finally, the third period, from 1997 to the present, is an era of lessons learned from the conservation era. Land use decision outcomes reveal that the decision-making processes of farmers are influenced both by the hierarchical decisions of higher authorities and by horizontal linkages among multiple stakeholders. However, while farmers participate readily in forest conservation activities, they do not play an active role in the process of changing policies.

Determinants of Household Decision to Join Community Forest Associations: A Case Study of Kenya

Forests contribute significantly to the livelihoods of forest adjacent communities. Under the Kenya's new Forest Act (2005), community participation in forest conservation is provided for through formation of Community Forest Associations (CFAs). This study focused on Ontukigo and Ngare Ndare CFAs involved in participatory management of Ontulili and Ngare Ndare forests in North Central Kenya. It aimed at identifying household factors associated with decision to participate in PFM and the differences between CFA and non-CFA members in their participation in forest conservation activities. Semi structured questionnaires were administered to randomly selected 80 CFA and 80 non-CFA members. Factors influencing household decision to join CFA included household size (, ), age (, ), number of cows (, ) and sheep (, ) owned by CFA (6.6) and non-CFA (4.2), farm size (, ) and forms of land tenure. Other factors included distance of homestead from forest (, ), sources of fodder (, ), access to forest products (, ), crop land (, ), and awareness of Forest Act 2005 (, ). Participation in forest conservation was positively influenced by CFA membership (, ). Majority of CFA members (80%) participated highly in forest patrol, fire control, tree nurseries, and tree planting activities.

English

Community participation is seen to be the building block for the efficiency of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project. In order for local residents to cooperate with a reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, they must have a positive perception toward the forest conservation system and positive attitude toward the forest conservation project. This study examined the attitude and perception of the local community toward conservation of the Makira forest, from where carbon credits are intended to be sequestered under the REDD schema. The perception and attitude of the local people were studied in three dimensions: the perception toward the conservation of Makira, the perception of the forest and forest resources, and the perception of the community forestry including cost and benefit. It was assumed that regardless of the dependency of local residents on the forest, the reception of an incentive and participation in the local meetings or participation within the forest conservation and development activities would provide a positive perception toward the forest conservation project. Data were obtained from a random sample of 188 households living within the vicinity of the protected forest. Sixty percent of respondents were found to agree with the idea of Makira forest conservation; however, statistically significant differences were found between the villages in terms of supportive attitudes toward the forest conservation system (p = 0.03) and toward the conservation project (p = 0.04). Nearly half of the respondents held a positive attitude toward the conservation project. However, those highly dependent on the forest to generate income remained reluctant and unsupportive, suggesting that high levels of support toward a conservation project by sections of the community may not translate into conservation success, because the drivers of the deforestation and forest degradation are not supportive. A perception of direct benefits from the project was found to be the main factor of the respondents’ attitudes and perceptions. This study then suggests that to change the perception and attitudes of indigenous people around protected areas, environmental education through sensitization should be encouraged, and then addressing local development needs, encourage broader participation in community forestry if the conservation project wants to win the support of local communities for long-term emission reduction through forest conservation goals.   Key words: Protected area, forest management, community attitude, Makira, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

The Structure, Functioning and Organisational Interaction of Community Based Forest Management System: Empirical Evidence from Goalpara District of Assam

India has been following the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) system since 1990 in the form of Joint Forest Management (JFM). The data of Forest Survey of India shows that the regions where the JFM system is implemented has not improved the forest cover whereas there is improvement in forest cover in the regions where no JFM committee exists. This means that there is a failure of the CBFM system in the state. The failure of the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) is linked to the organizational structure and functioning of these JFMCs. This study points to the array of conflicts between the actors involved in forest conservation activities viz., the JFMCs and Traditional Forest Protection Committees, the Nominees of Forest Department and Local JFMC functionaries, and JFMCs and the Forest Dependent Households. These conflicts explain the reasons for lack of cooperation between the actors and emphasize the need to provide the forest dependent people not a nominal participant role but a more substantive role in defining the purpose and the process of forest conservation.

Participation to forest conservation in National Kabore Tambi Park in Southern Burkina Faso

The main objective with this study is to investigate how different household characteristics, households' perceptions about the security of land use rights, and the households' proximity to forests affect the individual household's willingness to engage in activities that are meant to promote sustainable forest management in Burkina Faso. To achieve this objective we use a multinomial choice model of engagement (or non-engagement) in forest management activities based on household data from 4 villages surrounding the National Kabore Tambi Park in Burkina Faso. The results show that the participation by household members in forest conservation activities is mainly determined by the three variables that are related to policy: membership in community based forest management associations, security of land use rights, and training. The current training programs focus only on forest conservation practices. To be more efficient it should focus on increasing people's knowledge about the benefits due to conservation and the threats resulting from the lack of forest management. Furthermore the results indicate that improving land use right security would increase farmer's willingness to participate in forest management activities such as community work and forest surveillance. Thus particular attention should be paid to the prevailing system of land rights and its incentives, or disincentives, for promoting sustainable management of the forest resource.