Livelihood Improvement Research Articles

The Capacity of a Household Farming System with Women’s Decision and Action-Making Power: Rural Marginal Areas in Morocco

Nowadays, women’s contribution to society through their social and human involvement at the household level in terms of education, care, and nutrition, as well as their added value to economic functioning, is increasingly recognized. However, most of the related research highlights the relative contributions of women and men. This paper proposes to analyze the link between women’s contribution to social, economic, and financial activities and the rural livelihood of the whole household farm. Based on a household survey that included a respondent section for women from over 285 families in the least rurally developed regions of Morocco, descriptive statistics and systemic analysis successively based on multiple factorial and clustering analyses were used to analyze the links between household adaptative capacity and women’s material and immaterial contributions. The results revealed that women play a crucial role in intergenerational knowledge transfer, which constitutes a critical factor in household capacities and reproduction, especially in the least endowed households. However, the women’s farm or off-farm activities did not guarantee their autonomy. So, the contribution of women to household farm livelihood through their know-how opens alternative pathways to reconsider their contribution to the overall goal of livelihood improvement.

Non-timber Forest Products in Bu Gia Map National Park: Local Use and Sustainable Management

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Bu Gia Map National Park (BGMNP) have played a critical role in local livelihood. Thus, the park resources have been threatened by local harvesting. Yet, the local perspective of the NTFP utilization between Indigenous Ethnic Minorities (IMs) and Kinh people (KPs) has been poorly understood. Besides, in order to analyze the resource use between the IMs and the KPs, the “walk-in-the-wood” method and the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) were employed. This paper revealed that the local NTFP utilization gradually shifted from purely self-consumption to more income generation (p-value = 0.000 < 0.05). Besides, the IMs relied much upon the NTFPs, whereas the KPs were less dependent upon these resources. The IMs harvested these resources for more subsistence related to their traditional and basic needs than those KPs. Based on the local findings, the institutional management strategies in BGMNP should emphasize resource utilization patterns, human capital empowerment, and group-based arrangements. Likewise, group-based arrangements in BGMNP would play an important role in the local livelihood improvement and the sustainable park development.

Vegetation based climate solutions for soil management in smallholder farmlands of Kabale and Rubanda districts, Uganda

Understanding and appreciating climate solutions for soil management in smallholder farmlands are paramount. These climate solutions inform smallholder farmers’ actions, choices, decisions and priorities to tackle specific climate change problems and opportunities. The study used structured and semi structured questionnaires to collect field data to ascertain smallholder farmers’ knowledge about vegetation based climate solutions for soil management in Kabale and Rubanda districts, Uganda. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from 367 smallholder farmer household head respondents. Regression model, specifically linear to test multicollinearity and multinomial logistic and descriptive statistics was utilised to examine vegetation based climate solutions for soil management. Vegetation based climate solutions such as crop residues, selected trees, Napier grass and Seteria grass (dependent) and gender, age and marital status, and level of education information (independent) were determined predictor variables. The findings revealed that both genders, males (51.5%) and females (48.5%), witnessed climate change as demonstrated in Fig. 2. The chi-square test (χ2 = 376.337) indicated a significant difference between smallholder farmers’ implementing climate solutions. The study observed positive Kendall’s tau (0.357 and 0.118) and a p-value (0.002 and 0.289) of temperature and rainfall respectively. Most farmers (69.2%) relied on fellow farmers as a major source of climate information to manage soil and enhance soil fertility. Vegetation based climate solutions 33.8%, (planting Napier grass, selected tree species, and crop residues) were revealed as suitable and effective soil management interventions to control soil erosion and fertility improvement in smallholder farmlands. Climate solutions were significantly influenced by level of education (0.000) and farmland size (0.001) at 0.05. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate vegetation based climate solutions into government development programmes and agendas to enhance soil fertility and erosion management in smallholder farmers’ farmlands with a focus on livelihood improvement through increasing crop yields and hunger alleviation.

Bundled measures for China's food system transformation reveal social and environmental co-benefits.

Food systems are essential for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in China. Here, using an integrated assessment modelling framework that considers country-specific pathways and covers 18 indicators, we find that most social and environmental targets for the Chinese food system under current trends are not aligned with the United Nations Agenda 2030. We further quantify the impacts of multiple measures, revealing potential trade-offs in pursuing strategies aimed at public health, environmental sustainability and livelihood improvement in isolation. Among the individual packages of measures, a shift towards healthy diets exhibits the lowest level of trade-offs, leading to improvements in nutrition, health, environment and livelihoods. In contrast, focusing efforts on climate change mitigation and ecological conservation, or promoting faster socioeconomic development alone, have trade-offs between social and environmental outcomes. These trade-offs could be minimized by bundling all three aspects of measures.

Quantitative Impacts of Socio-Economic Changes on REDD+ Benefits in Xishuangbanna Rainforests

REDD+ is a UN-backed framework aimed at reducing carbon emissions in developing countries through sustainable forest management and the protection and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. These are key goals for the international community to achieve climate change mitigation through forestry. REDD+ programs deliver carbon, environmentally based, and social benefits through incentives provided to local societies. This study focuses on a quantitative assessment of the REDD+ framework from the perspective of localized socio-economic shifts. The drivers–pressures–state–impact and partial least squares–structural equation models were employed to evaluate impacts of socio-economic change on multiple REDD+ benefits and their influential factors in the tropical rainforests of Xishuangbanna, China. The results revealed that land-use changes form essential and complex links between socio-economic and eco-environmental changes. Socio-economic shifts in the recent twenty years in Xishuangbanna impacted carbon emissions mainly through land-use change (impact coefficient = 0.909), which was nearly three times the impact of land-use change on environmental degradation (0.322) and more than twice its impact on social benefits (0.363). Such unbalanced impacts suggest a need to optimize local policies through contextualized measures in a way that effectively addresses livelihood improvements, enhancing carbon storage and environmental services to achieve REDD+ targets in the tropical rainforests of China.

Assessing Multiple Benefits of Community-Based Ecotourism: Evidence from Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Region, Kaski District

This study analyzes multiple benefits of community-based ecotourism in the ACAP region, located in Kaski District. The research focuses on the economic, social, cultural, environmental, educational, and health benefits of community-based ecotourism. A crosssectional survey design was used to collect data from 234 tourism entrepreneurs through self-administered questionnaires. The findings suggest that ecotourism has contributed significantly to local economies, generating substantial annual income, creating employment opportunities, and fostering the economic growth of local communities. Ecotourism has been shown to positively influence family income, household expenditure, and overall economic stability among tourism entrepreneurs. The study also highlights the broader social and cultural impacts, with increased awareness and engagement in conservation efforts, as well as improvements in community health and education. The involvement of the communities in tourism entrepreneurship has further strengthened the link between ecological preservation and economic benefits, creating a sustainable model of rural development. Overall, the research underscores the growing importance of ecotourism as a key driver of rural livelihood improvement in the ACAP region. The findings suggest that ecotourism is not only a source of income but also a means of enhancing community resilience, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation. The study advocates for the continued promotion and development of ecotourism by government agencies, emphasizing its role in achieving long-term multiple benefits of community-based ecotourism in the potential areas of the country.

Analyzing Drivers of Tropical Moist Forest Dynamics in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park Landscape, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo from 1990 to 2022

The protected areas (PA) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo serve as vital carbon reservoirs and are crucial for biodiversity conservation and climate regulation. Despite their significance, these areas face escalating rates of deforestation and degradation, often poorly understood at the local level. This study focuses on the dynamics of tropical moist forest (TMF) and the relative importance of the driving factors in the landscape of Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP), one of the country’s prominent PAs. Analyzing annual TMF dynamics from 1990 to 2022 using data classified by Vancutsem and his collaborators in 2021 from Landsat imagery alongside spatial datasets of deforestation and degradation drivers, we employed a comprehensive analytical approach. This included meshing, multi-scale analysis, principal component analysis, zoning, multiple linear regression, and relative importance analysis through bootstrapping. The findings indicate that the grid size considered does not significantly influence TMF dynamics in the KBNP landscape (p-value = 0.67, α = 0.05). The edge and outer zones experienced substantial dynamics, with approximately 30% forest cover loss in both areas, contrasting with the relatively stable TMF cover (~100%) in the inner zone. Fire emerged as the most influential driver, explaining TMF dynamics with a relative importance of approximately 55%, 30%, and 23% in the inner, edge, and outer zones, respectively. This study underscores KBNP’s efficacy in curbing TMF loss but highlights the need for enhanced protection around its periphery. Management efforts should prioritize sustainable land use practices, livelihood improvement, and the establishment of an officially recognized buffer zone.

Drivers of vegetable market participation in southcentral Ethiopia: Heckman two-stage model approach

Vegetable marketing helps to increase household income and ensure food and nutrition security in developing countries, including Ethiopia. However, market participation by vegetable producers is typically low in many parts of Ethiopia. Thus, our study intends to investigate key drivers affecting vegetable market participation and its intensity among smallholder households in the Lemo district of southcentral Ethiopia. The data were collected from a total of 345 randomly selected respondents. Heckman’s two-stage model was employed to analyze the data. The findings show that the intensity of vegetable sales in the study area was 34.32%, implying that the larger proportion of the vegetable output was not marketed but consumed at the producers’ homes.The model results show that the respondent’s sex, age, education level, land size, perception towards weather conditions, access to credit, technology adoption, and market distance influenced vegetable market participation. Similarly, education level, family size, off/non-farm income, perception towards weather conditions, access to credit, technology adoption, and market information determined the intensity of vegetable market participation. Therefore, policies aimed at enhancing the implementation of gender-sensitive development programs alongside providing better access to adult education, credit, market information, improved technologies, better rural infrastructure, and market linkages are recommended to encourage smallholder farmers’ involvement in the market and enhance their livelihood improvement.

Evaluation of cherry tomato genotypes for tribal livelihood improvement

Evaluation of cherry tomato genotypes for tribal livelihood improvement

Beyond the business case: Impacts and resilience post-adoption of decentralized renewable energy for rural livelihoods

Productive uses of energy – tied to the usage of energy for economically productive appliances – to catalyze improvements in livelihoods, healthcare, and education have gained increased attention recently from governments and donor organizations. Through an intensive qualitative field-study of 64 rural entrepreneurs in southern Indian state of Karnataka who adopted different types of Decentralized Renewable Energy Assisted Machines (DREAMs) to start or improve existing rural enterprises such as roti-making, blacksmithing, tailoring, and food-processing, we contribute toward understanding when, how, and for whom do such productive uses make a positive impact. Going beyond the analysis of financial returns, we present an integrated impact-resilience framework to analyze the non-financial and broader socio-economic impacts of improved electricity access for rural enterprises. We show that DREAMs activate a cascade of interlocking set of impacts and livelihood resilience measures. While there is a general appreciation that DREAMs may contribute to making the adopting households more resilient, we trace the pathways through which such resilience building might occur. The reorganizational effects of DREAMs on the economic and social fabric of rural life appear to be quite large and potent. Our observation of multi-faceted positive spillovers resulting from the adoption and use of DREAMs lends support for policy interventions to develop and support the local and regional ecosystems that undergird deployment of DREAMs in rural areas.

Challenge and Progress: Kutia Kondh's Development Journey

In the past, during India's Fifth Five Year Plan, a special category called Primitive Tribal Group (PTG) was created under Scheduled Tribes. These groups were characterized by living in a way similar to ancient times, relying on hunting and gathering for survival, having very few children or even decreasing population, and having very low levels of education compared to other tribal groups. However, in 2009, the Government of India decided to change the name from "Primitive Tribal Group" to "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) " because some people felt that the word 'primitive' was disrespectful. Odisha, a state in India, has 13 communities classified as PTGs, and one of them is the Kutia Kondh community. This study looked at the Kutia Kondh people who live in villages managed by the Kutia Kondh Development Agency (KKDA) in Belghar, part of the Baliguda area in the Kandhamal district. The research compared important measures of progress for the Kutia Kondh community over two different time periods using surveys that examined their social and economic situations. The study also included information about the Kutia Kondh way of life gathered through ethnographic research. The study finds that the Kutia Kondh people are in a transition phase, balancing between their traditional way of life and modern influences. While socio - economic development initiatives have brought significant changes to their culture and lifestyle, many traditional practices still endure. However, when examining various factors, Kutia Kondh villages still lag behind in access to essential facilities like infrastructure, education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. Key concerns include inadequate infrastructure, limited connectivity, housing issues, lack of clean drinking water and electricity, poor education and healthcare services, and insufficient support for livelihood improvement. It's crucial to not only focus on development efforts to enhance their socio - economic status but also to preserve their unique culture and traditions. Efforts should be directed towards both improving living conditions and safeguarding their cultural heritage.

Multifaceted Assessment of Agricultural Extension in Conflict Affected Areas of Mindanao, Philippines

Agricultural extension in conflict affected areas has received limited research attention. Yet agricultural extension undertaken within a group–based facilitation framework can have many benefits via livelihood improvement, human and social capital development. In this paper, an extension model adapted for conflict affected areas is briefly described and then assessed from multiple viewpoints – physical, economic, lifestyle, social capital and environmental. This was done in two case study sites in conflict affected areas of Mindanao, Philippines. Major positive physical, economic and lifestyle changes were revealed at both case study sites, as were changes in knowledge, attitude, skills, and aspirations and social capital. Some positive environmental aspects were also noted. Income and savings were up 64 and 108 percent respectively, with those income changes being reflected in additional expenditures on basic items such as food clothing and education. Knowledge, attitudes skills and aspirations (which can be regarded as intermediate steps towards livelihood improvement) all increased substantially. Various social capital indicators were judged to have improved. From an environmental perspective, there were decreases in charcoal production and slash and burn activity. Tree planting and soil fertility increased. Most of these assessment parameters, but especially social capital with its implication for trust and human interaction, are relevant to peace building. With the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, there is expected to be a strong increase within the Philippines and internationally in funding the promotion of agricultural livelihood activities in Mindanao. The multifaced assessment of benefits is somewhat unique and the resulting quantification of the benefits demonstrates that additional funding and more diverse applications could be warranted.

A systematic study of interactions between sustainable development goals (SDGs) in Hainan Island

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development issued by the United Nations is an important foundation for countries to achieve common economic, social and environmental development. Important progress has been made in the evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Hainan Island; nevertheless, there is still a lack of understanding around the trade-offs and synergies between the SDGs. Studying the trade-offs and synergies between Hainan Island’s sustainable development goals is of great significance for the coordinated development of these goals and the promotion of the construction of free trade ports. Therefore, based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Assessment System and the existing SDG indicator system on Hainan Island, this paper identifies and quantifies the trade-offs and synergies within and between SDGs and targets on the county scale. Based on the different impacts of different spatial, dimensional and geographical directions, the results show the following: (1) Hainan Province made good progress on multiple SDGs between 2010 and 2021. (2) The most significant synergies between SDGs exist between SDG1 (No Poverty) and SDG10 (Reduce Inequalities), while the most significant trade-offs exist between SDG2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG4 (Quality Education). (3) Obvious spatial characteristics in trade-offs and synergies exist, with the highest level of synergy being in the Haikou and Sanya Economic Circles and their surrounding areas, and in the central region of Hainan Island which has a higher level of trade-offs. (4) The synergistic effect between the SDG targets and indicators in Hainan is much greater than the trade-off effect: the four aspects of people’s livelihood improvement, economic development, resource utilization and environmental quality all show synergistic effects in different regions.

Impact of biogas adoption on household energy use and livelihood improvement in Kenya: an overview on a roadmap toward sustainability

Purpose This study assesses the impact of biogas adoption on household energy use and livelihood improvement. Also, this study aims to clarify the benefits of biogas adoption as a pathway to sustainable household energy. Design/methodology/approach The study explored the benefits of adopting biogas uptake. Fourteen sustainability indicators were identified, validated and categorized. Findings Adopting biogas technology provides numerous benefits, including better air quality, reduced deforestation and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Households can replace up to 4.5 tons of wood fuel, cutting CO2 emissions by around 6.75 tons annually. This shift saves approximately US$25 (Ksh.3223) monthly and frees up 45.5 h per week, enabling families to pursue additional income-generating activities. Biogas also produces digestate, a natural fertilizer that improves soil fertility, water retention and reduces erosion while minimizing the need for chemical fertilizers. Integrating biogas in livestock housing reduces odors, pathogens and methane emissions. Research limitations/implications The findings demonstrate numerous social, economic and environmental implications of biogas use. Social implications Health benefits include lower exposure to smoke and particulate matter, particularly benefiting women and children by reducing respiratory issues, improving lighting and enhancing educational opportunities. Biogas further improves hygiene, promotes cleanliness, strengthens energy security and alleviates energy poverty. In addition, the construction, operation and maintenance of biogas systems create jobs, and the use of digestate enhances agricultural productivity. Originality/value This study provides a unique and thorough analysis of the benefits of biogas, offering valuable insights and outlining a sustainable approach.

Influence of Forest Plantation Establishment Schemes on Community Livelihoods: A Case of Makutano Forest Kericho County, Kenya

Exploitation of forest resources has been a thorny issue to many countries. In efforts to restore degraded forests, countries have resulted to establishing forest plantations. There is also need to sustain livelihoods of these populations living around forests. Kenya on its part, adopted Plantation Establishment and livelihoods Improvement scheme (PELIS) program as part of participatory Forest management (PFM). PELIS involves the planting of food crops together with tree seedlings. It is however not clear whether balance has been strike between attaining forest cover and improving community livelihoods as was the intent of the program. Consequently, this study sought to shed light on this issue by looking at the influence of forest plantation on community livelihoods. This study adopted the decentralized forest management theory. Cross-sectional research design was adopted. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in data collection and analysis. The target population was 1719 which included forest adjacent community (FAC) members, and community based organization (CBO) leaders. From this a sample of 212 was selected. Systematic sampling was used in selecting the households and snowball sampling in selecting the CBO leaders involved in two tire focused group discussion. Questionnaire schedules were prepared to be used among household members. The findings indicated a significant influence of PELIS on community livelihood (f = 221.642, P=0.000). Those near the forest registered to have derived more economic benefits than those far away from the forest (f= 3.127, P= 0.000). A strong relationship between the frequency of attending CFA and CBO meetings, the level of involvement in decision making and planning of forest activities (B = 3.479, P< 0.05) was noted. The size of land available for cultivation was found to be statistically significant to food security among the community (f= 221.642, P= 0.000). The most important and most utilized forest products were firewood at 95%, fodder at 71% and droppers from tree pruning at 68%. Further research is needed on how more benefits from products like herbs, wild vegetables and honey cold be realized.

The effects of Vicoba Services on the performance of SMEs in Tanzania; the case Kinondoni District

This study assessed the effect of VICOBA services on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Tanzania. The study employed descriptive design to establish relationship between loans and financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Kinondoni district. The multistage sampling techniques of simple random and judgmental sampling were employed in selecting 76 replicates from Umoja wa VICOBA Kata ya Kigogo (UVIKAKI). Structured questionnaires instruments and interviews were used in data collection. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and content analysis. The study findings revealed that, there is significant influence of VICOBA to the development of entrepreneurship schemes and poverty reductions among community members of UVIKAKI scheme. Through loans disbursement at low interests encourage the improvement of capital and livelihood to the members through income-generated activities such as poultry, catering, canteen, and workshops. The government partners that play a key role in the grassroots movement of informal sector of economy should call on all funders, financing organizations, and development partners to help the marginalized population. Similar to this, communities could assess themselves against programs like VICOBA by developing their own internal awareness, knowledge, skills, and capital.

Blue Carbon as a Potent Strategy in the Pathway to Achieve Net Zero

Climate change and its various impacts, including extreme weather events, have recently been recognized as urgent threats to the ecosystems. The Blue Economy, as defined by the World Bank, involves the use of ocean resources to promote sustainable economic propriety, livelihood improvement and job creation while ensuring health of ocean ecosystems. Notably, investing in blue carbon, which encompasses ecosystems like mangroves, tidal and salt marshes, seagrasses can serve as a powerful tool in combatting climate change. Investing in innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions and funding initiatives to create and expand carbon sinks worldwide are essential components of this endeavour. While technological innovations are a focus, nature-based solutions, particularly the preservation and reclamation of blue carbon ecosystems, can offer an expedient, sustainable and less expensive approach. This research article aims to establish the significance of investing in blue carbon initiatives. In this line, this study proposes that implementing blue carbon initiatives under the voluntary carbon markets would be a key strategy towards achieving the net-zero pathway.

Assessment of the Local Strategies Used in Abating Flash Floods for Improvement of Community Livelihoods in Nyamwamba and Bulembia Divisions, Kasese District, Uganda

Floods are intricate events that cause a range of human exposures, including loss of lives, property, and damage to infrastructure of the communities. Flash floods though often blamed on inappropriate development planning and climate variability, floods can be predicted to a reasonable extent, whose scale and nature are often less certain. The study aims at assessing the local strategies used in abating flash floods for improvement of community livelihoods. Specifically, the study explored the challenges the local communities faced during the implementation of the strategies, and also determined the relationship that emanated as a result of implementing the local strategies and community livelihoods. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 218 respondents and 08 Key Informants that held key responsibilities at the Municipal Council and the community. Information from the respondents and Key Informants were collected using questionnaires which was in form of interviews and face to face interviews respectively. The study shows that some local strategies have been implemented towards controlling flash floods such as, restoration of river banks (69.3%) planting bamboo trees along river banks (66%), use of gabions (65.6%), putting check dams (65.6%) and construction of manmade channels (95.9%) along the hillsides. Putting flood barriers (73%) that floods affect the community livelihoods in various aspects of daily life and the local economy in terms damage of crops (74.8%) risk of diseases (83 %) loss of livestock (60 %), displacement (93%); The challenges faced in implementation of the of local strategies in the study area include financial constraints (81.2%), technical and logistical issues (63%), poor infrastructural design (83.9%), and environmental challenges (66%). A Chi square test showed that the implemented local strategies were significantly related to the community livelihood at P=0.001. Implemented local flood strategies resulted to a positive relationship to the agricultural productivity and protected community property at P<0.05. Overall, effective flood management strategies are able to reduce risks and contribute to a better community health with fewer disruptions to community’s daily life at P<0.05. Local communities should adopt and implement the use of the mentioned local strategies like re-channeling of water pathways along the hill sides and use of gabions for flash floods mitigation since they cost effective. There should be a country-wide implementation of community-initiated mitigation measures for abating flash floods and related climate change disruptions aimed at building and promoting community resilience and livelihoods of people living in flood prone areas.

A process evaluation of a home garden intervention

BackgroundMost reviews of nutrition-sensitive programs assess the evidence base for nutrition outcomes without considering how programs were delivered. Process evaluations can fill this void by exploring how or why impacts were or were not achieved. This mid-term process evaluation examines a home garden intervention implemented in a large-scale, livelihoods improvement program in Odisha, India. The objectives are to understand whether the intervention was operating as planned (fidelity), investigate potential pathways to achieve greater impact, and provide insights to help design future home garden programs.MethodologyData collection and analysis for this theory-driven process evaluation are based on a program impact pathway that shows the flow of inputs, processes, outputs, outcomes, and impacts. Quantitative and qualitative data from focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and a Process Net-Mapping exercise with beneficiaries, frontline workers, and program management staff.ResultsDespite a mismatch between the design and implementation (low fidelity), the process evaluation identified positive outputs, outcomes, and impacts on home garden production, consumption, income, health and nutritional outcomes, and women’s empowerment. Flexibility led to greater positive outcomes on nutrition, the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and easy-to-understand nutrition models, and the likelihood of the intervention being sustained after the program ends.ConclusionsTo help food systems in rural settings reduce food insecurity by utilizing more sustainable agricultural practices, we recommend that home garden interventions include instruction on easy-to-understand nutrition models and on how to make natural fertilizer. Finding local solutions like home gardens to help address critical supply issues and food insecurity is paramount.

Legal Examination of Benefit Sharing and Livelihood Improvement in Protected Area Managements: The Case of the Bakossi National Park

This study examines the interplay between benefit sharing and livelihood improvement within the Bakossi National Park (BNP) within the legal perspective. Traditionally, conservation efforts often placed local communities at odds with protected areas. However, through a doctrinal methodology, this research argues that a well-designed benefit-sharing program can foster collaboration and improve the lives of local communities. By analyzing the BNP as a case study, the research explores how initiatives like revenue sharing from timber exploitation, tourism, employment opportunities within the park, and community driven projects can generate income and empower local communities. The effectiveness of these programs hinges on understanding the specific needs of the communities and ensuring their equitable participation in decision-making processes. Ultimately, this study contends that successful benefit sharing in PAs management, like the BNP, can create a win-win situation, where biodiversity is preserved, and local communities thrive. The work concludes with robust recommendations that if complied with and enforced, it would go a long way to improve on the livelihood of local communities in the Bakossi National Park of Cameroon.