Forest Management Institutions Research Articles

Local Institutions Performance in Mangrove Forest Management on Small Islands: Case Study in Buano Island, Maluku Province, Indonesia

Mangrove forests on small islands play an essential role in the stability of island ecosystems. It is crucial to analyze the performance of local institutions in forest management to increase the community’s active role in preserving mangrove forests. This research aims to analyze the performance of local institutions managing mangroves on small islands. The research was conducted on Buano Island, Maluku, Indonesia. In-depth interviews and participant observation were used to obtain data. Data analysis uses a Situation, Structure, Behavior, and Performance (SSBP) approach. The research results show that the community is very dependent on mangrove forests. Resources are owned by the clan group (Soa) but managed by members of the clan group (family). Thus, the phenomenon occurs when common pool resources are managed by private (Dati/Nuru) proprietors. The community regulates the utilization of potential forest resources by dividing management areas controlled by each Soa/Nuru group. The preservation of natural potential on Buano Island is supervised by Kewang and Sasi culture. Applying customary rules increases the community’s active role in managing resources and supporting village management. However, mangrove forest logging activities continue to occur. This performance shows a very high decline in mangrove forest vegetation and regeneration of mangrove forests. Stakeholder support is needed to increase the knowledge and skills of the community, especially traditional leaders, in implementing sustainable forest management. Keywords: forest management, local institution, mangrove, small island

Forest users' perceptions and institutional dynamics during covariate health-related shocks: Lessons from the Busitema Forest Reserve in Uganda

Increased dependency on the forest has resulted in rapid transformation of forest landscapes; this has been identified in the extensive literature as a significant mechanism for the spread of several zoonotic diseases, including the Ebola and COVID-19 viruses. Empirical evidence suggests the need for active management of forest resource access as a holistic path towards curbing spillovers, placing forest management institutions at the epicentre of regulating forest resource use and preventing zoonotic spillovers. Yet, there is scant evidence on the pattern of institutional change in the context of health shocks in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This validates the need for context-specific evidence on the perceptions of forest users regarding the triggers of spillovers around forest-based communities and how forest management institutions respond to such shocks. As a contribution, we draw on descriptive statistics and narratives to: (a) analyze the perceptions of forest users regarding the triggers of covariate health-related stocks such as Ebola and COVID-19, (b) characterize forest-related institutional influence on forest management and (c) compare institutional response approaches towards the Ebola virus disease and the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed a random sampling of 135 households, focus group discussions (n = 4), and expert interviews (n = 8) to generate relevant empirical data. The findings indicate that forest users identify the consumption of bushmeat and human-wildlife contact as the primary triggers of Ebola and COVID-19. Also, the COVID-19 and Ebola virus induced forest management institutional response, which assumed similar patterns. However, the degree of change largely depended on the scale and impact of the shock; COVID-19 induced more institutional responses than Ebola. The study establishes uniformity in the pattern of forest management institutional response to health shocks, providing relevant policy insights for forest settings during health shock events.

Analisis Efektifitas Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Nagari Dalam Mencapai Tujuan Program Perhutanan Sosial Dan Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhinya

His study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Nagari Forest Management Institution in achieving the objectives of the Social Forestry Program and examine the factors that influence the effectiveness of the Nagari Forest Management Institution in achieving the objectives of the Social Forestry Program. This research is a qualitative research using interviews, observations and FGDs to collect research data. The results of this study indicate that the Nagari Forest Management Institute in implementing the Social Forestry program from an ecological aspect has been effective, this can be seen from changes in the behavior of exploitative permit holders to care about forests, permit holders have played an active role in preserving and protecting forests, namely by planting replanting forest plants in agroforestry manner so as to have a positive impact on the environment in the form of maintaining water sources, uprooting critical land, conserving biodiversity, and reducing forest fires, so that forest sustainability is maintained. Furthermore, the Nagari Forest Management Agency in the economic aspect is considered ineffective because the social forestry program has not been able to increase the amount of production generated from business activities, the amount of net profit and business expansion and this program has not opened up many business opportunities for permit holders. Then the authors also found that not all of the Social Forestry Business Institutions formed at LPHN could operate and carry out transactions and the ability to access permit holders in marketing Non-Timber Forest Product products was also still low. The Nagari Forest Management Institution in the social aspect is also ineffective where the LPHN has not been able to increase the knowledge of permit holders, as seen from the lack of participation of LPHN members in every activity and the lack of strong institutional capacity. LPHN has also not been able to provide satisfaction to permit holders with the results achieved, and has not had an impact on farmers

The interactive effect of endogenous and exogenous institutions on forest use practices in socio-culturally diverse landscapes of Cameroon

AbstractIn resource-dependent communities of sub-Saharan Africa, it is widely held that endogenous institutions either countervail or complement exogenous institutions, indicating inconsistency in empirical evidence. This has re-ignited interest to establish the independent and/or interactive effect of both endogenous and exogenous institutional structures. This paper quantitatively analyses the independent and interactive effects of community-based (endogenous) and state-based (exogenous) forest management institutions (FMIs) on the exploitation of forest resources, drawing from a representative sample of 446 households from three socio-culturally diverse landscapes of Cameroon. The paper introduces a multiplicative interaction term and used the heteroscedasticity-based instrumental variables approach to estimate the direct and indirect effects of exogenous and endogenous institutions on the behaviour of users of forest-based resources. The results indicate that: (i) Both exogenous structures of FMIs and the interaction term significantly constrain the extractive behaviour of forest resource users; (ii) endogenous structures and not rules are vital in improving the role of exogenous structures in forest resource management; (iii) while traditional rules are less significant in shaping forest resource exploitation, their effectiveness is highly significant across the study sites and (iv) institutional compatibility and complementarity was observed in landscapes that were formerly shaped by British colonial influence (Bakossi and Kilum-Ijim). This paper does not only establish the relative influence of exogenous and endogenous FMIs, it also highlights future research pathways on institutional change in the context of environmental resource management in sub-Saharan Africa.

Role of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) Institutions in the Management of Non-Timber Forest Products: A Roadmap from Kerala

Role of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) Institutions in the Management of Non-Timber Forest Products: A Roadmap from Kerala

Analysis of the Potential of Non-Timber Forest Products at Siarsikarsik Village Forest Management Institute, Lumban Julu Village, Lumban Julu District, Toba Regency

Forest utilization through social forestry management within state forest areas is implemented to realize forest sustainability, community welfare, and environmental balance, and accommodate socio-cultural dynamics, requiring approval, recognition, and capacity building for the community. This study aims to analyze the potential of priority Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) at the Siarsikarsik Village Forest Management Institute (LPHD), Pasar Lumban Julu Village, Lumban Julu District, Toba Regency. The research was conducted from August to September 2022 using primary and secondary data. The method used is to conduct a census of the LPHD management population. The data analysis technique uses the stages of reduction, presentation, verification, and conclusion. From the interview results, it was found that the priority NTFP potentials were honey, rattan, incense, sugar palm, and ornamental plants. The obstacle in NTFP management is the low level of human resources and institutional capacity. Capacity building is the main strategy in supporting the development of NTFP management.

Response of forest management institutions to health-related shocks. Learning from the Busitema Forest Reserve of Uganda during the COVID-19 outbreak

ABSTRACT There is extensive literature on forest management institutional responses as a function of socio-economic and political factors, albeit limited evidence on responses triggered by health shocks. To bridge this gap, this paper analyses forest management institutional response approaches around the Busitema Forest Reserve in Uganda, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case. Household surveys (n = 135), focus group discussions (n = 4) and key informant interviews (n = 8) provided the relevant data. The results indicate that compliance with formal and informal institutions increased during the pandemic; this was attributed to fear and uncertainty about the mode of spread of the COVID-19 virus, which was flagged by mainstream media as a zoonotic disease. Formal institutional enforcement agents, therefore, used the pandemic to forward their agenda and reinforce rules that aim to exclude local people from resource appropriation in this reserve. The response was further manifested through the transposition of existing institutions to new functions, changes in rule application and the introduction of new rules. These responses paved the way for formal institutions to tighten their control of forest resource use by allying with informal institutions. The study provides complementary evidence on institutional change with an emphasis on COVID-19 as a health-related trigger.

Gender dan Antikorupsi di Sektor Kehutanan di Kabupaten Sorong Selatan Provinsi Papua Barat

West Papua's forests are the lungs of the world, because it has the largest remaining forest and it is hoped that its sustainability will be maintained. Community life in the forest has become part of people's lives in South Sorong Regency, West Papua, which is very dependent on natural forests. Forest management activities by local communities are still dominated by men, this is in accordance with the local cultural system which recognizes the patrilineal system which prioritizes men who are more powerful and traditional leadership and village administration than women. Therefore, the issue of gender is very appropriate to be raised and discussed in this research in order to realize equality in adat and leadership in government. In addition, gender issues are linked to the anti-corruption context in the forestry sector in South Sorong Regency. The data used is primary data including data on 1) identity, 2) characteristics of household members, 3) household understanding of forests, 4) gender and forest utilization activities, 5) gender participation in forest management, 6) gender and corruption in forestry sector, and 7) understanding of and participation in the anti-corruption program, while secondary data is in the form of forest area data, Forest Management Units, Forest Farmers Groups, Forest Management Institutions; number of households in forest area, forestry profile of south sorong district, forestry statistics, forestry service annual report. The results of the study show that in terms of gender, men play a greater role in forest management, but also more involved in committing acts of corruption in the forestry sector.Keywords: gender, anticorruption, forest, participation

Role of actors in promoting sustainable peatland management in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract Sustainable peatland management needs collaboration among many actors. This study portrayed the role of actors in managing peatland in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, based on their interests and influence factors. We employ the purposive sampling method to select 13 actors to represent their institutions to assess their organization’s level of interest and influence in peatland management. The results indicated four existing groups categorized as key players, context setter, subject, and crowd. The key player group has the primary role in program planning and implementation of the Forest Management Unit of Kubu Raya, Wetland Ecosystem Management Unit, Regional Development Planning Agency, and Agriculture Service of Kubu Raya Regency. The subject group supports peatland management programs in the implementation and supervision role, which consists of forest concessionaire (PT Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari) and communities. The context setter group has roles in regional planning, regional supervision, and monitoring of fire hazards, including Production Forest Management Institute in Pontianak, Fire Brigade, and Regional Forest Area Designation Agency III in Pontianak. The last stakeholder is the extension worker categorized in the crowd group, which empowers and assists the community in managing peatland. Avoiding conflicts of interest and promoting collaborative actions are essential factors needed to ensure sustainable peatland management.

The Forest Management Policy and its Influence in Forest area Utilization and Empowering Forest Communities in Yogyakarta

PurposeThis study wanted to test and determine the impact of implementing forest management policies based on the Forest Management Unit’s role in forest areas and community empowerment in Yogyakarta. MethodThe method used in this study used qualitative research with data sources obtained through surveys with variable measurement results. Samples were taken based on the forest area of the Yogyakarta area seen from the forest planning and management plans as well as the culture of the people in the Yogyakarta area itself. The analysis used also uses Stakeholder Analysis to define the parties who influence this research. ResultResearch results showed that the village community, as a local institution, can collaborate and interact with external parties to develop the local institution. Policies made to develop collaborative activities do not fully accommodate existing situations and conditions. Therefore, collaborative activities require various strategies and innovations to maintain the sustainability of cooperation. Collaborative activities recognize local institutions in forest management. Empowerment of local community using clear design principles will last long and capable of adapting to environmental changes. The success of community institution management does not rely on the institution’s sustainability since community institutions have prevailed through various crises for an extended period. OriginalityThis research is expected to contribute to the efforts on increasing forested areas in forest management policies for Community Empowerment in Indonesia.

Human resources for forestry in Kazakhstan: Current status, potential and problems

Abstract The aim of this research is to assess the current status, potential and problems of human resources for forestry in municipal state forest management institutions (MSFMIs) of Kazakhstan. A total of 120 MSFMIs are functional in Kazakhstan, with almost 5.5 thousand employees, of which 6.1% are women. Overall 63% are foresters, 13% are masters of the wood, 13% are engineers of forestry of all categories, 7% are forest wardens and 4% are directors. The quality of education of forest workers also varies and a minority of forest workers has a higher education. The scenario also suggested that almost 3000 specialists had taken up the advanced training courses from 2003 to 2019. According to a survey of employees of the MSFMIs of two pilot oblasts (Almaty and East Kazakhstan), the average age of an employee is 44.7 years and 79.2% of employees have a work experience of up to 15 years. The main issues and difficulties observed in the work of MSFMIs staff were low wages, lack of modern technique and equipment for forest service, lack of systematic continuing education of employees, poor quality of education, as well as staff turnover, especially foresters, which consequently affects their professional level.

From Within and Without: Gender, Agency and Sustainable Management of Non-Timber Forest Products in Two Indian States

Non-timber forest products (NTFP) from trees are often collected using unsustainable practices, which contributes to the species’ decline and affects the livelihoods and wellbeing of the most forest-dependent groups, such as women, ethnic minorities and the landless. Here we assess opportunities to improve the sustainability of NTFP collection practices across two landscapes in India, using an agency perspective where male and female NTFP collectors themselves identified and evaluated practices and potential interventions for species of their choice. We developed a framework for identifying community-based solutions for NTFP management and carried out participatory exercises in gender-segregated groups in ten rural communities across two states. Unsustainable collection practices such as cutting branches to collect fruits were somewhat more common among women than men, and more common in the more degraded landscape with weaker forest management institutions. Participants described ecological and economic impacts of collection practices in detail, including impacts on future yields, regeneration and product prices. Proposed solutions to improve NTFP management in the less degraded landscape were focused on incentivising sustainable use and working through village institutions, external actors, or both in collaboration. In the more degraded landscape, participants emphasised sanctions and did not frequently propose the existing village institutions to take action. Women proposed collaboration with external actors less often than men. The results indicate that agency perspectives are useful in stimulating discussion about locally relevant NTFP management options, but that social and gender norms and poor relationships with forestry authorities constrain the agency of vulnerable groups in identifying opportunities for change.

Social Media as Support Channels in Communication with Society on Sustainable Forest Management

This article deals with the issue of using social media to promote sustainable forest management. Major forest managers see significant value in combining various social media channels and implementing a communication campaign. With the help of social media, it is possible to raise public awareness of rational forest management. The purpose of this research was to conduct an in-depth theoretical and research analysis of the use of increasingly common communication channels such as social media. The research and analysis period was set from 1–26 July 2018. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of communication activities, the social media survey was repeated from 1–21 January 2019 and from 1–21 July 2020. The control analysis focused on the use of the main social media channels. The article assumed the hypothesis of conscious actions in the communication of forest management institutions in social media to communicate the rational use of forest resources. The hypothesis was positively verified on the basis of quantitative and qualitative studies of nonparticipatory observation for selected social media (Facebook, Instagram) and analysis of data contained in social media channels. The pilot study was conducted on 45 forestry entities from Poland. The results of the survey indicate the growing use of social media to communicate with the public about forest management. The dominant share of respondents consider social media as effective channels for forest education. Facebook is the most popular channel for conducting dialogue with the public. The results of the qualitative survey confirm the superiority of a graphic or mixed form of information presentation over the written form alone. This confirms the observed trends of increasing use of infographics, especially in communication with younger generations.

Global deforestation revisited: The role of weak institutions

Linking weak governance and forest degradation has received increasing attention in scientific and political spheres. Deforestation remains a global matter as a major agent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, for endangering the lives of several plant and animal species, and for triggering political disputes involving land tenure and rural violence. Political factors are acknowledged to have a direct impact on forest resources management. Corruption and weak governance are able to deflect policies to private interests, and encourage illegal logging and unlawful allowances to forest degradation even in protected areas. However, the effects of corruption and weak institutions in forest management are still uncertain. This paper offers empirical-based evidence about the relationship between institutional factors and forest cover conversion. The role of weak institutions is explored by employing a logistic model of recent high-resolution global remote sensing data from the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative Land Cover (CCI-LC) from 1992 and 2015. We assess the cross-country associations of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) and the World Bank Government Effectiveness (GE) index while controlling for physiographic and structural variables. Results are robust and show, as expected, that difficult access areas pose considerable barriers to forest conversion, and regions of high agricultural suitability are more likely to be converted from forests to agricultural fields. Furthermore, higher government effectiveness with stronger political enforcement, policy design, and lower corruption perception are significantly related to a lower probability of deforestation. Further elaborating governance and corruption indicators with emphasis on forest management/conservation can potentially improve the accuracy of local and cross-country quantitative land use studies. Our findings support the continuous understanding of weak institutions in deforestation debates. The paper highlights the need to fight corruption and to build strong institutions into effective policy strategies.

Forest management institutions and actor-centered conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa: Contemporary realities and future avenues for research and policy

The rapid transformation of forest landscapes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been a key trigger to social conflicts among forest management actors. This development has a governance undertone with institutions playing a central role in shaping the dynamics. This Special Issue synthesizes nine published articles which address questions on the perceptions, attitudes and transaction costs linked to forest management institutions, institutional bricolage and the interaction between state-facilitated (formal) and community-facilitated (informal) institutions. The Special Issue also provides empirical evidence on gendered perspectives in institutional change processes, partnership reforms in forestland systems, institutional coordination and the (un)intended outcomes of decentralized forest management. The contributions to this Special Issue provide a glimpse on the separate treatise of actors and institutions, and on manifest social conflicts in forestry settings in SSA. The synthesis led to the definition of the following future lines for research and policy: Firstly, future studies should reemphasize the links between forestry and social conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. Secondly, fostering the “marriage” between actors and institutions will ensure a holistic appreciation of forest use and management processes. Thirdly, the literature on the links between pandemics and forest-linked institutional change in sub-Saharan Africa is still scanty. Fourthly, studies to uncover the governance of forced migrants and their role in shaping forest use and management institutions are required. Finally, there is a need for multi-country studies, employing mixed-methods approaches to analyze actor-institutions dynamics in forest use and management in sub-Saharan Africa.

PENGELOLAAN HUTAN OLEH DAYAK HALONG MERATUS (Studi Kasus Masyarakat Adat Dayak Halong Desa Uren Kabupaten Balangan Provinsi Kalimantan Selatan)

This research aims to analyze Forest Management by the Indigenous People of Dayak Uren Village. This research was conducted at Uren Village, Halong District, Balangan Regency. The research location was selected using a purposive method. The object of research is the Dayak Uren indigenous people, Halong District, Balangan Regency. This research uses a qualitative approach. The results of this research indicate that community institutions in managing the Uren Village forest consist of two institutions, namely customary institutions and forest village management institutions. In managing the forest, the Dayak indigenous people of Uren Village have customary law which is divided into customary law in agriculture or plantations, hunting, utilizing plants, utilizing water sources, and managing forests as environmental services. According to customary law, the forest area of Uren Village is divided into three areas, namely the sacred forest area, the customary forest area, and the cultivation area. In addition, the Uren Dayak Indigenous People still believe in the ‘pamali’ tradition or taboos related to forest use. The mechanism for processing forest land for food purposes is to use a land clearing system that still uses the traditional method, namely logging, slashing, and burning using simple tools. The Uren Dayak Indigenous People also hold rituals related to religious tradition as a form of respect for the God, ancestors, and the goddess of rice. Forest management is an economic and ecological added value for the Dayak indigenous people of Uren Village. The availability of land to be used can make Uren Village have food security.

Seeds of Control: Japan's Empire of Forestry in Colonial Korea by David Fedman

Reviewed by: Seeds of Control: Japan's Empire of Forestry in Colonial Korea by David Fedman Robert Winstanley-Chesters Seeds of Control: Japan's Empire of Forestry in Colonial Korea by David Fedman. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2020. Pp. xvii + 292. $40.00 hardcover, $40.00 e-book. "The mountain ranges in Korea cover more than half the total area of the country. Owing to indiscriminate felling of trees without public supervision, which was practiced for a long time past, most of the mountain slopes … have become denuded of trees."1 Traditionally, academic histories of Korean forests almost inevitably start with the assertions of the Japanese colonial authorities, such as this quotation from a report published by Tokyo's famous precolonial Resident-General Itō Hirobumi 伊藤博文 in 1907. In this colonial narrative, Korean forest history, in comparison with Japan's, was not auspicious. The Chosŏn dynasty bequeathed only degraded forests and mountains, covered not in trees but in vividly red soil. Japan has a long history of appointing forest wardens (yamamori 山守) and timber magistrates (zaimokuishi bugyō 材木石奉行) to quantify and survey national, regional, and local [End Page 158] timber resources. In comparison, "the ownership of forests" in Korea was historically ambiguous.2 When it comes to environmental history, these colonial presumptions became commonsense knowledge globally; they have been both internalized by Koreans and projected onto postcolonial Korean narratives about the peninsula's own forests. This intellectual inheritance from the colonial period means that to most academic readers, Park Chung-hee's 박정희 efforts at greening South Korea, through the New Village movement (K. Saemaŭl undong 새마을운동) and other projects in the 1960s and 1970s, are a huge surprise and feel in some way counter to the grain of Korean history. The barren slopes close to population centers in North Korea, with their damaged and depleted ecologies, are what we expect when it comes to Korean forest spaces. This unbalanced narrative inherited from pre-1945 prejudices is of course not true. It was never true. But academic writing is only recently beginning to find a more nuanced and empirical direction. While Conrad Totman's masterful 1989 book outlines in beautiful, intricate detail the minutiae of pre-Meiji Japanese forestry, we have waited until now for a piece of work that does the same in Korean history in English.3 David Fedman's Seeds of Control aims for a historical frame closer to our present time than Totman's, but it shares similar ambitions. It is worth saying at the outset that Fedman's work is the first in an emergent body of work in Korean environmental history. John Lee's doctoral work on Chosŏn's "kingdom of pines" sets the tone for a complete reconfiguration of Korea's forest history: Lee illuminates the reality that Korea had a long history of coherent forest management revolving around red pine (Pinus densiflora) and black pine (Pinus thunbergii), which were perhaps not as practically attractive as the hardwoods most important and traditional to Japan.4 Fedman's book beautifully plays off colonial horror on Korea's alien red soil, as much as it plays on James Scott's words for its title: if states have to see in a particular way to assert political claims and their legitimacy, then they have to seed in a similar way, both agriculturally [End Page 159] and arboreally.5 Seeds of Control explores the various processes by and through which Japanese imperialism constructed a particular vision of modernity on Korean forest landscapes. As with most developmental narratives related to colonial Korea, the approach Fedman describes does not apply to the later period of total-war mobilization, when all the peninsula's resources, including its trees, served Tokyo's military strategy. Fedman's work is most fascinating for the unexpected glitches in the colonial system it describes. Just like the colonial administration, Japanese scientists were unimpressed by Koreans' love for red pine. Pine associations (K. songgye 松契), Korea's traditional institutions for local forest management, were regarded with suspicion and deemed ripe for modernization. According to the Japanese, "Songgye had failed to curb deforestation on a national scale … precisely because of their parochialism. Their legacy was atomized pockets of protected...

Community-based forest management institutions in Cameroon: dynamics and compliance determinants

ABSTRACT Changes linked to forest management institutions in diverse communities and cultural settings continue to attract research interest. However, comparative insights on their manifestations are lacking in Former British and Former French Cameroon. We trace the evolution of forest management institutions in the Kilum-Ijim and Santchou landscapes of Cameroon and analyse their compliance determinants, using key informant interviews (n = 12), focus group discussions (n = 6) and household surveys (n = 150). The results revealed a fairly stable culturally embedded institutional landscape in Kilum-Ijim, and a significant multiplication of structural institutions for Santchou. The logistic regression showed that perception and compliance with forest management institutions substantially depend on educational attainment, migration, membership in organisations, length of stay in the area and proximity of respondents to protected areas. The conclusion drawn is that landscapes which came under British colonial influence have fairly stable culturally embedded institutions, when compared to those that came under French influence. These site-specific traits shed light on the complexities linked to embedded institutions and their evolution. It further edifies theoretical perspectives on critical institutionalism. Studies on the source and content of the ‘last vestiges’ of these institutions are required.

What do we (not) know on forest management institutions in sub-Saharan Africa? A regional comparative review

With growing concerns linked to the (un)sustainable management of forest resources, the role of institutions as mediators increasingly gains relevance in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This is particularly so, as formal and informal institutions virtually compete for dominance – a yet-to-be-resolved colonial hangover. A large body of scientific knowledge exists on the role of institutions in regulating forest access, use, and management in SSA, albeit fragmented. Sub-regional variations in research on this subject further nuances our understanding of the breadth of conceptual and methodological issues in this field. This raises a central question: How can we advance knowledge on forest management institutions in SSA to enhance forest governance amidst the critical role of forests in addressing current global environmental challenges? We contribute answers to such interrogation by systematically reviewing more than three decades of scientific literature on institutions in forest use and management. Through a structured review of 100 empirical articles (involving 374 cases studies), and guided by the socio-ecological co-evolution framework, we derived two lessons. First, the conceptualization of forest-linked institutions is more skewed towards institutions as processes, than as structures. Second, the major determinants of institutional compliance are economic, ecological, political, socio-cultural, demographic, and geographical in nature. However, the weight of each determining factor varies in specific sub-regions. For instance, in East Africa, economic, ecological, socio-cultural, and geographic factors dominate while economic, demographic, and political factors dominate in Central Africa. Therefore, in crafting forest institutions in SSA, sub-regional disparities in factors that influence compliance (or otherwise) should be critically considered and addressed to improve effectiveness. Methodologically, qualitative approaches (e.g., key informant interviews and focus group discussions), conducted within short time spans, have been prioritized. However, observed knowledge fragmentation on the subject, including inconsistencies or mismatches, calls for combined, long term qualitative analyses with quantitative ones, in a robust mixed-methods approach. Future research should prioritize this methodological approach, with a focus on sub-regional, country-level specificities, to better inform understanding of forest-linked institutional dynamics.

Interplay of governance elements and their effects on deforestation in tropical landscapes: Quantitative insights from Ecuador

After state-centered and market-centered approaches have driven international development cooperation activities in previous decades, improved governance has now come into the focus as a means to help reversing global trends of tropical deforestation. Yet, “good governance” remains a normative, broad and often underspecified concept consisting of a wide range of elements and implicit value judgements. Specific knowledge is missing on the relative importance of single elements, on their interdependencies and their specific effects. Following an analytical approach, we aimed to investigate if single governance elements affect each other and whether they relate to decreasing deforestation. We conducted a quantitative field study in twelve selected landscapes across 160,000 ha of tropical lowland forest in Ecuador. We mapped governance arrangements and land use in participatory exercises. The performance of single governance elements including tenure, forest management practices, law enforcement, institutions, and participation was quantified based on the governance assessment framework of the World Resource Institute. We assessed context information and used satellite based deforestation data. Principal component analysis showed that all governance elements loaded positively on the first axis. This shows that specific governance elements acted conjointly. They are in general not antagonistic, but interact positively and might reinforce each other. Policy and development work may therefore focus on a smaller number of well-selected governance elements. High performance of specific governance elements, in particular tenure and participation was linked to reduced deforestation. This supports the notion of a number of governance elements as being indeed “good” for low deforestation. This functional understanding draws a more differentiated picture for single governance elements and supports outcome oriented decisions instead of value-oriented principles that underlie “good governance”. Direct deforestation drivers such as agriculture and infrastructure explained larger shares of deforestation as compared to governance. A number of conclusions and recommendations for the specific governance situation in tropical lowland forests of Ecuador are given.