Participatory Forest Management Program Research Articles

Effects of participatory forest management programs on Land use/land cover change and its Determinants in Alle District, southwest Ethiopia

In order to create sustainable conservation policies for biodiversity, it is imperative that participatory forest management (PFM) be assessed. Forests contribute to the sustainability of the planet by controlling soil erosion in agricultural areas and by moderating the effects of climate change. However, Ethiopia's forest resources have been under intense pressure because of the increased demand for wood products and agricultural conversion. As one of the potential solutions, the PFM programme was implemented in 1990. This study set out to investigate the effects of the PFM programme on land use and land cover (LULC) in the Alle district of southwest Ethiopia, as well as the variables influencing community involvement and the obstacles to PFM implementation and community involvement. Changes in forest cover were detected using Landsat images from 1992, 2012, and 2022 obtained from Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager (OLI). Images were obtained during the dry season and were cloud-free. A total of 240 respondents were chosen by means of a straightforward random sampling technique, and survey data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. Data were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5, ERDAS Imagine 2015, SPSS version 20, and Excel 2010. The change in forest cover shows an increasing trend from 2012 to 2022. Again, grassland and wetland coverage in this study decreased rapidly. In the years 2012–2022, forest land increased from 462.7ha (74.8 %), to 569.8ha (92.1 %), while, the agricultural land, grassland, and wetland were reduced from 109.5ha (17.7 %) to 37.8ha (6.1 %), 31.9ha (5.2 %) to 0.0ha (0.0 %); 14.1 ha (2.3 %), to 10.8 ha (1.7 %) respectively. There have been beneficial developments in the forests over the last 30 years. The binary logistic regression model disclose that, land ownership had a negative impact on forest management participation, while other factors such as gender, education level, family size, TLU, access to credit, training, and law enforcement had a positive and significant (p < 0.05) effect on PFM practices. LULC change in study area causes rapid wetland ecosystem deterioration, which may result in the extinction of the most significant and ecologically valuable species and a loss of biodiversity in the environment. In this context, developing an integrated participatory approach requires rapid attention, and all farmers and stakeholders must be actively involved in PFM programs.

Contribution of Participatory Forest Management Program in Non-Timber Forest Products to balance Livelihood Improvement and Conservation: a case of Sera Forest, Amigna District, Southern Ethiopia

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) have a significant role as a local source of medicine, fiber, forage, and sustenance and offer income opportunities mainly in rural families. As sustainable use of NTFPs is imperative to provide ecosystem services and biological resources, this study focused on the identification and documentation of plant species used for NTFPs, their availability, and conservation status in Sera Forest, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. The study applied a combination of plant ecological and ethnobotanical methods. Ethnobotanical data were gathered through semi-structured questionnaires and interviews which involved 206 randomly sampled general and 24 purposively selected key informants, group discussions, guided field walks, and market surveys. Data were analyzed and presented using analytical methods of ethnobotany, including descriptive statistics, informant consensus factor (ICF), and ranking. Species diversity, richness, and evenness were also computed using Shannon–Wiener diversity indices. A total of 137 plant species belonging to 49 families used as a source of NTFPs were documented from the study area. Eleven major use categories of the NTFPs were identified. Out of these, medicine, firewood, charcoal making, and construction materials were the most dominant uses requiring large volumes of NTFPs. Direct matrix ranking of plant species with multipurpose use revealed, that Hagenia abyssinica was ranked highest, followed by Olea europaea ssp cuspidata, Grewia mollis, Croton macrostachyus, Ximenia americana and Carissa spinarum. Local communities of the study area possess rich indigenous knowledge in the regulation of grazing and extraction of forest products, forest patrolling, firebreak clearance and maintenance, selective preservation of tree species and nursery activities focused on the restoration of indigenous woody species, which all help in using their natural resources for sustainable livelihood. Sera forest is rich in NTFP-bearing plants and associated indigenous conservation knowledge. However, nowadays illegal timber extraction, grazing, over-harvesting of NTFPs, farm expansion, and fire hazards are found to be threatening the plant resources, irrespective of the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) principles. Therefore, it is important to have strong evaluation and monitoring mechanisms for setting harvesting quantities and regulating types of collection. Besides developing a sense of ownership, and responsibility, integrating their traditional forest management practices with modern conservation approaches is desirable for higher livelihood outcomes with lower environmental impacts.&#x0D;

Assessment of Households’ Perception Towards Participatory Forest Management the Case of Heban Arsi Woreda, Ethiopia

Understanding communities perceptions and attitudes towards participatory forest management (PFM) is crucial to successful PFM improvement. However, there is a lack of research evidence on the perception of local communities for PFM program intervention. The purpose of the study was to exmine local community perceptions and attitudes towards PFM intervention. In this study, 131 households were surveyed and data were collected through the household survey; key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussion (FGD). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results show that the households perceived that there is no deforestation after PFM intervention. This increased species diversity, forest coverage, productivity of the forest, number of valuable species and address environmental degradation. Respondents that PFM program has opportunities to change a negative attitude to a positive through giving of power to the local community, enables to exclude non-PFM members, and creates a sense of belongingness to use and conservation of forest. The finding demonstrated that households generate their incomes from different sources and the share of forest income is the second. The different actions such as better protection of existing forests, access to alternative livelihood, access to better knowledge were suggested to increase the existing benefits and management of PFM. The finding of the study suggests further improvement of local communities’ perception and attitudes as well as providing alternatives to improve forest conditions and livelihood.

Factors determining the participation of natural resource cooperative members in forest management: A study of dry forest area in Ethiopia

For realizing sustainable forest resources management, participatory forest management (PFM) program has been implemented in different areas of Ethiopia for the last two decades. However, the success of PFM program largely depends on the active involvement of local community in the different activities of the PFM program. This study examines the determinants of household's level of participation in different activities of the PFM program in Metema and Quara districts of Amhara region, Ethiopia, with information obtained using a structured questionnaire survey of 156 member households of natural resource conservation cooperatives employing ordered logistic regression analysis. The results of the regression analysis reveal that gender, age, educational level of cooperative members and their regional provenance, income from NTFPs, access to extension service, perception on the proper implementation of the forest management plan and living distance from the community forest are important factors which explain the participation level of cooperative members in forest conservation, forest utilization and decision-making activities of the PFM program. The study suggests for empowerment of all members in decision-making process including improvement in women's participation through a policy reform in the organizational structure of natural resource conservation cooperatives in order to enhance local community participation in the PFM program. Hence, this policy reform may help ensuring the success of the PFM program. Moreover, effective mechanisms should be developed to ensure equitable benefit-sharing among members of cooperatives for the success of the PFM program.

Study on the Influential Factors of the Involvement of Local People in Participatory Forest Management: The Case of Wof-Washa District, Ethiopia

Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is crucial to the implementation of effective forest management and improvement in the living conditions of local communities. But local people involvement in PFM practice is affected by demographic, biophysical, institutional, and socio-economic factors. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed to collect information from 295 households (127 participants and 168 non-participants) by stratified sampling technique followed by a random sampling method. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources through structured interview schedules, Focused Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII) and field observation. The study employed both descriptive statistic and logistic regression model to compute the socio-economic characteristics and to identify influential factors that affect the community’s involvement in PFM practice respectively. The results of the logistic regression model revealed that household’s family size, educational status, training, benefits derived from the forest, and the number of livestock were positively affected local people’s participation in PFM activities, whereas the distance of the forest from household resident was negatively affected. Apart from demographic, biophysical, institutional, and socio-economic factors granting ownership right, improved awareness, fear of displaced from the forest area, fear of forest lose and moral obligation were enhancing factors while the expansion of agricultural land and settlement, illegal logging, weak punishment, the insufficient fund or lack of incentives, poor forest management trend, conflict of interest, and doubt on the continuity of PFM program were some influential factors that hinder local people’s participation in PFM activities. The study assisted policymakers to inform the influential factors that affect local people’s participation in the study area and formulate effective policy advice to promote PFM practice in the region. Keywords: Participatory forest management; Influential factors; Household; Socio-economics; Wof-Washa District; Policy advice DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-17-04 Publication date: September 30 th 2021

Understanding forest users' participation in participatory forest management (PFM): Insights from Mt. Elgon forest ecosystem, Kenya

Participation of local communities in forest management decision-making has been promoted as a mechanism of improving livelihoods and forest conditions, yet the level of participation in many programs remains low. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 924 forest-dependent households in Western Kenya, we examine the factors that support or constrain forest dependent people's participation in a Participatory Forest Management (PFM) program. We run a probit model to assess households' choice to join PFM and then compute a Participation Index (PI) for forest users' participation across different stages of the PFM program – planning, implementation and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). The determinants of participation are then analyzed using the fractional regression approach. Results show that over half (52%) of the respondents participated in PFM. While vulnerability to shocks, being in a farmers' group, a household's access to the forest within the previous 12 months and access to extension were associated with the likelihood of participating in PFM, the influence of the household head's age and education, access to credit and food insecurity had a negative influence. Our results reveal PIs of 41%, 49%, and 42% at the planning, implementation, and M&E stages respectively, indicating a moderate participation level. The fractional regression model shows that transaction costs associated with access to markets, gender (being male), household expenditure and expected forest benefits positively influence household participation in PFM, while the opportunity costs associated with off-farm income, distance to the forest and lack of extension have a negative influence on participation. These results point to the need to take the household context (gender, education, household expenditure and vulnerability) into consideration during planning and implementation of the forestry programs. The implication is that forest authorities should identify and implement mechanisms to enhance benefits from forests but also reduce costs of participation, especially for women.

Forest participation of local communities: a study of a tribal dominated region in India

The present paper attempts to quantify the level of participation of local communities comprising women, landless people, illiterate people, scheduled caste and scheduled tribes (SC/ST), youth and elders who are involved in the participatory forest management program of India. The paper also tries to estimate the factors responsible for participation in different stages like planning, implementation and monitoring. This paper is based on primary data collected from 252 households in Bagmundi forest range office under Purulia forest division of West Bengal, India, in the month of January 2020. A multistage sampling technique and a questionnaire method have been used for data collection. Linear regression model is applied to estimate factors affecting participation at various stages. The level of participation is higher for scheduled caste and scheduled tribes, landless and illiterate households. The overall participation of the households is influenced by gender, family size, occupation, landholdings, forest income to total income, distance from residence to forest, distance from residence to market and cooperation on the part of forest department. The paper has an important policy implication for social and economic development.

STUDY ON THE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS OF THE INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF WOF-WASHA DISTRICT, ETHIOPIA

Participatory Forest Management (PFM) is crucial to the implementation of effective forest management and improvement in the living conditions of local communities. But local people involvement in PFM practice is affected by demographic, biophysical, institutional, and socio-economic factors. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed to collect information from 295 households (127 participants and 168 non-participants) by stratified sampling technique followed by a random sampling method. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from primary and secondary sources through structured interview schedules, Focused Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interviews (KII) and field observation. The study employed both descriptive statistic and logistic regression model to compute the socio-economic characteristics and to identify influential factors that affect the community’s involvement in PFM practice respectively. The results of the logistic regression model revealed that household’s family size, educational status, training, benefits derived from the forest, and the number of livestock were positively affected local people’s participation in PFM activities, whereas the distance of the forest from household resident was negatively affected. Apart from demographic, biophysical, institutional, and socio-economic factors granting ownership right, improved awareness, fear of displaced from the forest area, fear of forest lose and moral obligation were enhancing factors while the expansion of agricultural land and settlement, illegal logging, weak punishment, the insufficient fund or lack of incentives, poor forest management trend, conflict of interest, and doubt on the continuity of PFM program were some influential factors that hinder local people’s participation in PFM activities. The study assisted policymakers to inform the influential factors that affect local people’s participation in the study area and formulate effective policy advice to promote PFM practice in the region. KEYWORDS: Participatory forest management; Influential factors; Household; Socio-economics; Wof-Washa District; Policy advice

The diversity and distribution of lianas under various disturbance regimes in Chilimo dry Afromontane forest, Ethiopia

Lianas contribute substantially to plant diversity and to local people’s livelihood in tropical forests around the world. However, their species composition and the factors that determine their distribution in dry Afromontane forests are less explored. In this study, we quantified the diversity and density of lianas under various anthropogenic disturbance levels in Chilimo dry Afromontane forest of Ethiopia. We also assessed their importance to the local people. All woody species ≥10 cm and lianas having ≥1 cm diameter size at the point of measurement were recorded in 72, 20 m × 20 m plots distributed on seven transect lines with 2 km distance between transects. We found twenty-four woody vines that belong to 19 genera and 15 families, having an overall density of 1358 liana stems per hectare. These lianas contributed about 25% to the woody plant diversity of the study forest. Six liana-climbing modes were recorded. Stem twiners were predominant in terms of species richness while Scrambler armed climbers were the most abundant species. Liana species richness and abundance were significantly different among the low, moderate, and high forest disturbance levels (p < 0.05) and Liana diversity significantly reduced in highly disturbed forest plots (p < 0.01). Human disturbance indirectly hinders liana assemblage, as liana species richness and abundance showed a positive relationship (p < 0.05) with tree species richness and abundance. The five most abundant species were Carissa spinarum, Rubus steudneri, Rosa abyssinica, Jasminum abyssinicum, and Urera hypselodendron. All the enumerated liana species identified had medicinal, veterinary, food, fence, traditional house construction, fuelwood, grazing, artisan work, and honeybee forage importance to the local residents. Carissa spinarum, Clematis simensis, and Rosa abyssinica were found to be the most important species to the local people having 2, 1.54 and 1.53 importance value index, respectively. There is a need of implementing effective forest management through strengthening the ongoing participatory forest management program to reverse the negative impacts of anthropogenic forest disturbances and to sustain dry Afromontane lianas and their roles in biodiversity and socioeconomic aspects.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in treatments of human and livestock ailments in Gasera Woreda, Bale zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia

An ethnobotanical study of indigenous knowledge on the uses of medicinal plant species was conducted from December 2017 to March 2018 in Gasera district of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State. The objective of the study was to document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock ailments, threats and conservation status of medicinal plants before it is lost. Different ethnobotanical techniques such as semi-structured interviews, group discussion, field observations and guided field walk were used for gathering data and a total of 97 informants from 6 kebeles were involved in the study. A total of 121 medicinal plant species belonging to 113 genera and 60 families were documented. Among plant families, Lamiaceae was the most dominant plant family represented by 10 species, followed by Solanaceae represented by 8 species and Asteraceae represented by 7 species. Most of the species (78 species) were collected from the wild while (43 species) were collected from home-gardens. A total of 59 (48.76%) species were used for the treatment of human ailments, 34 species (28.1%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments and 28 species (23.14%) were used to treat livestock ailments only. Herbs were the most used plants, accounting for 52.89% followed by shrubs (23.14%), trees (19.01%), climbers (3.31%) and epiphytes (1.65%). Human interference through habitat destruction for agricultural expansion, construction, firewood and other purposes were the major threats to medicinal plants in the study area. Awareness raising and community based participatory forest management program should be encouraged.

Developing capacity of forest users through participatory forest management: Evidence from Madhupur Sal forest in Bangladesh

ABSTRACTParticipatory forest management is credited for supporting social learning processes and fostering capacity of forest users for collaboration and collective actions. Despite more than a decade of practice, the empirical evidence substantiating the contribution of participatory management for the capacity development of forest users is scarce. This study assesses a participatory forest management program in Madhupur Sal forest, Bangladesh, by comparing the capacity of de-facto groups of participants and nonparticipants and identifies factors that influence the capacity development. Data were collected using a mixed method approach which combines both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Results indicate that participants differed from nonparticipants significantly in terms of various capacity dimensions related to collective actions. Extension services, credit support, trust within society, information and communication influence the level of capacities in tribal population to adapt and respond to changes. The initiatives to manage natural resources are likely to be more successful if the forest management program initiators consider several factors that influence the capacity development of resource users.

Evaluation of good governance in a participatory forestry program: A case study in Madhupur Sal forests of Bangladesh

Participatory forestry programs in Bangladesh have been implemented since 1980’s to ensure forest conservation along with empowerment of local people, who depend on forest resources. Despite the establishment of legal and institutional frameworks for devolving a meaningful authority to local people, participatory forestry in Bangladesh has been facing many governance challenges. Therefore local people involvement in forest governance needs to be evaluated. A quantitative and qualitative research method has been applied to investigate a forest governance framework for evaluating the efficacy of participatory forestry in Bangladesh. Field data were collected by semi-structured interview of 120 local forest participants using scoring of qualitative data on a point scale (1–5).The study was based on the proposed modified framework for evaluation of good governance in terms of participation, transparency and efficiency. Analysis of data revealed that participation in benefit sharing received the highest score (3.90), while the lowest in the management committee meeting (2.12). Transparency in decision-making process received the lowest score (2.42). Similarly efficiency in handling tree farming fund (TFF) has the lowest score (2.35). In overall governance level, participation received the highest score (3.12), while transparency received the lowest (2.72). Findings indicate that poor governance still exists in participatory forestry program because of low level of participation and lack of transparency in handling tree farming fund (TFF). Therefore pragmatic approaches like strengthening monitoring mechanism, providing incentives for rule compliances need to be adopted to harness the benefit of good governance of a participatory forestry program. The findings of this study would be useful to forest policy-makers, development official and local forest practitioners in formulating effective policies for participatory forest management programs in Bangladesh and other developing countries. Our finding has also an implication on forest governance discourse in participatory forest management regimes.

Attitudes of Forest Users Towards Participatory Forest Management: The Case of Gebradima Forest, Southwestern Ethiopia

In recent years, the Ethiopian government has implemented participatory forest management (PFM) programs for achieving both forest conservation and livelihood outcomes through active participation of local communities. Understanding the attitudes of local communities is very important for designing effective local community development and sustaining conservation strategies. This paper examines the attitudes of forest users’ towards PFM programs and explores the association between respondents’ characteristics and their attitudes towards PFM programs in the Gebradima forest of southwestern Ethiopia. Primary data were collected through a household survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions from three PFM rural kebeles (the lowest administrative units in Ethiopia). Descriptive statistics and Chi square tests were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that the majority (79.7%) of the respondents expressed favorable attitudes towards PFM programs. Results also indicated that there were significant associations between gender, age, education, income from the forest and livestock ownership with attitudes towards the PFM programs (p < 0.05). On the other hand, marital status, family size and landholding size had no significant associations with attitudes. This study suggests that there is a need to promote local community development to ensure long lasting support of the forest users for sustaining forest conservation strategies.

Forest users’ level of participation in a participatory forest management program in southwestern Ethiopia

ABSTRACTThis study examines the level of forest users’ participation at different stages of a participatory forest management (PFM) program, and identifies factors that influence their level of participation in the Gebradima forest, southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from five forest user groups (FUGs) through household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. A participation index (PI) and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. Results revealed that the level of the forest users’ PI was 65.7%, 59%, and 54.9% at the planning, implementation, and monitoring stages, respectively. The logistic regression model showed that gender, family size, education level, income from the forest, distance of the forest from home, restriction on charcoal and timber harvesting, elite domination in decision-making processes, and lack of incentives were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05) predictors for the level of participation. Thus, this study suggests that policy-makers and project designers should consider these factors in making future PFM implementation strategies to improve the level of forest users’ participation in forest management activities.

Perceptions and attitudes of local people towards participatory forest management in Tarmaber District of North Shewa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia: the case of Wof-Washa Forests

IntroductionSince the last few decades, the government of Ethiopia has introduced and adopted participatory forest management (PFM) in different regions of the country. However, there is a lack of research dealing with perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM in Wof-Washa Forests (WWF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM implemented in WWF. We hypothesized that the perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM differ with socio-economic variables, such as sex, age, level of education, family size, occupation type, annual income, length of duration of local residence, livestock, and land ownership.MethodsA structured questionnaire comprised of close- and open-ended questions was developed and administered to a total of n = 64 households to collect information on the perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM in WWF. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze and interpret the data.ResultsThe results revealed that socio-economic variables had significant effects on the perceptions towards “the prevalence of the problems with the existing PFM system” (39% variance explained), “the concept of PFM” (30% variance explained), and “the presence of PFM practice” (11% variance explained). Majority of the respondents accepted the PFM program introduced in WWF in order to protect and manage the WWF. The study also revealed that socio-economic variables had significant effects on the attitudes towards “managing forests via participatory approach” (16% variance explained), “having the responsibility to protect the WWF” (40% variance explained), and “accepting the PFM practice” (54% variance explained). However, the findings suggested that there were some respondents who were yet unsure to fully accept the concept and practice of PFM.ConclusionsCreating public awareness about PFM is crucial to alleviate the problems of deforestation and reduce the unsustainable use of the WWF. As socio-economic variables that affect perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM may change over time, future research is crucial to consider the time dimension as possible factor while studying perceptions and attitudes of local people towards PFM.

Impacts of participatory forest management on forest conditions: Evidences from Gebradima Forest, southwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACTThis study examines a participatory forest management program and its impacts on forest conditions in Gebradima Forest, southwest Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from both participatory forest management (PFM) and nonparticipatory forest management (non-PFM) forest blocks. A total of 54 plots (27 from each forest block) measuring 20 m × 20 m were employed to collect species composition and structural data. Results indicated that a total of 51 different woody plant species (49 at PFM and 43 at non-PFM blocks), representing 31 families were recorded, with 41 species were shared for both forest sites. Species diversity and evenness were higher in the forest with PFM (H´ = 3.29, E = .85) compared to the forest without PFM (H´ = 2.97, E = .79). The overall mean values of tree/shrub and seedling density per hectare, diameter class (≤ 20 cm) were also significantly (p < .05) higher in PFM forest than non-PFM forests. However, no significant variations were observed in sapling density per hectare and basal area between the two studied forest blocks. It can be concluded that PFM had a positive effect on forest conditions compared with a similar forest without PFM. Hence, it is important to scaling up PFM in neighboring forests.

Rapid Silviculture Appraisal to Characterise Stand and Determine Silviculture Priorities of Community Forests in Nepal

Community forestry in Nepal is an example of a successful participatory forest management program. Developments in community forestry in four decades have focused on the social and governance aspects with little focus on the technical management of forests. This paper presents a silviculture description of community forests and provides silviculture recommendations using a rapid silviculture appraisal (RSA) approach. The RSA, which is a participatory technique involving local communities in assessing forests and silviculture options, is a simple and cost-effective process to gather information and engage forest users in the preparation of operational plans that are relevant to their needs. The RSA conducted on selected community forests in Nepal’s Mid-hills region shows that forests are largely comprised of dominant crowns of one or two species. The majority of studied community forests have tree densities below 500 stems per hectare as a consequence of traditional forest management practices but the quality and quantity of the trees for producing forest products are low. Silviculture options preferred by forest users generally are those which are legally acceptable, doable with existing capacities of forest users and generate multiple forest products. For sustainable production of multiple forest products, the traditional forest management practices have to be integrated with silviculture-based forest management system.

Does participatory forest management program lead to efficient forest resource use and improved rural livelihoods? Experiences from Mua-Livulezi Forest Reserve, Malawi

This study evaluates the efficacy of Improved Forest Management for Sustainable Livelihoods Program in communities adjacent to Mua-Livulezi Forest Reserve, Malawi. The program is specifically aimed at alleviating poverty and enhance rural livelihoods through promoting greater community involvement in forest management while providing access and associated benefits. The study therefore evaluated the effect of the program on community organisation, forest access, forest use, product availability and commercialisation of forest products. The results show that despite the program putting in place strategies for the people to access different products for different uses; forest use is restricted mainly to subsistence use rather than cash income. The main forest product collected by the people for livelihood was firewood, mainly for cooking and heating. This is an indication that forests are an important natural capital for subsistence rather than cash income. Gender, location of the village, and distance to the nearest forest area were significant predictors of households’ forest use. Introduction of the co-management program has not brought out the expected outcomes in areas of community organization, forest access, forest product availability and commercialisation of forest products. A multi-institutional approach is recommended to draw upon diverse talents and experiences from individual institutions both government and non-governmental in order to achieve meaningful social change.

Participatory forest management in Burkina Faso: Members’ perception of performance

This study examines variations in the performance of participatory forest management programs among four forest management groups (FMGs) in southern Burkina Faso, and assesses the factors that influence their members’ perceptions of performance through a household survey of 216 members. Variations in performance scores among the FMGs were analyzed through multivariate analysis of variance while multinomial regression analysis was used to identify factors that influence their perception of the performance. The results reveal significant differences in performance scores among FMGs. Members of some FMGs perceived that the participatory forest management program enabled them to get benefits from the sale of fuelwood while performance scores in the forest conservation and decision-making processes is generally poor. The score for economic performance of FMGs in turn was related to better access to roads and markets. Group size tended to enhance economic performance via its strong influence on annual fuelwood harvest, while the resource base appeared to be inconsequential. Members of the forest management groups perceived that large group size and group heterogeneity, particularly in terms of ethnicity, as well as knowledge and awareness of problems related to the forest environment have no influence on the performance of their respective groups. For rural communities to have a favorable disposition toward sustainable forest management, differences in member understanding of collective actions and their impact before and during the implementation of participatory forest management programs should be considered.

Decentralization and Community Forest Management in Burkina Faso: Constraints and Challenges

SUMMARY Since the 1980s, developing countries have invested increasing efforts in decentralization initiatives intended to achieve development goals, improve governance and enhance popular participation in the management of natural resources, notably forests. However, better understanding of the issues pertaining to, and the challenges facing, the decentralization of forest management is paramount for the success of such initiatives. This study examines the issues and constraints related to implementation of a decentralizing, participatory forest management program in the Centre-west region of Burkina Faso. For this purpose, information was gathered through a literature review and focus group discussions involving government authorities at various levels, local Forest Management Groups (FMGs), technical support staff and the regional association of fuel wood wholesalers. The acquired data show that Forest Management Units (FMUs) established by the State are not clearly demarcated, and in some cases fall w...