Pub Date : 2024-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103381
Stephanie Mansourian, William M. Adams, Karma Bouazza, Joice Nunes Ferreira, David J. Ganz, Jack Hurd, Stefano Pagiola, John Parrotta, Bruno Ramamonjisoa, Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Roger Villalobos, Gretchen Walters, Christian A. Kull
Restoring ecosystems, and forests in particular, has become a global priority. At larger scales, forest restoration must necessarily reconcile the needs and priorities of multiple stakeholders and, in doing so, raises several governance challenges. Approaching governance in the context of forest restoration through an interdisciplinary lens provides a complex picture consistent with the multiple factors that impact forest restoration. Focusing on one specific governance challenge, namely, how to balance global to local benefits of forest restoration, serves to demonstrate the complexity and value of approaching these challenges with an interdisciplinary lens. This paper presents several options, including: the need for a multi-scale and functioning governance structures or mechanisms involving decision-makers from local to national and international scales; considering multiple brokers (or “intermediaries”) as important leverage points; sharing tools with national governments that help to ensure that restoration brings a balanced flow of benefits to their citizens; redressing power imbalances by strengthening social capital and building the capacity of community-level organizations; recognizing rights (to land or forest tenure rights – whether to communities or privately to local community members); creating a dedicated funding stream for restoration; changing the focus from quantitative targets for tree planting/restoration to more multi-objective based approaches; acknowledging and emphasizing that forest restoration can yield multiple benefits for many individuals or groups, and ensuring that these can be realized.
{"title":"Reconciling global and local benefits of forest restoration: A shared interdisciplinary perspective","authors":"Stephanie Mansourian, William M. Adams, Karma Bouazza, Joice Nunes Ferreira, David J. Ganz, Jack Hurd, Stefano Pagiola, John Parrotta, Bruno Ramamonjisoa, Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Roger Villalobos, Gretchen Walters, Christian A. Kull","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103381","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103381","url":null,"abstract":"Restoring ecosystems, and forests in particular, has become a global priority. At larger scales, forest restoration must necessarily reconcile the needs and priorities of multiple stakeholders and, in doing so, raises several governance challenges. Approaching governance in the context of forest restoration through an interdisciplinary lens provides a complex picture consistent with the multiple factors that impact forest restoration. Focusing on one specific governance challenge, namely, how to balance global to local benefits of forest restoration, serves to demonstrate the complexity and value of approaching these challenges with an interdisciplinary lens. This paper presents several options, including: the need for a multi-scale and functioning governance structures or mechanisms involving decision-makers from local to national and international scales; considering multiple brokers (or “intermediaries”) as important leverage points; sharing tools with national governments that help to ensure that restoration brings a balanced flow of benefits to their citizens; redressing power imbalances by strengthening social capital and building the capacity of community-level organizations; recognizing rights (to land or forest tenure rights – whether to communities or privately to local community members); creating a dedicated funding stream for restoration; changing the focus from quantitative targets for tree planting/restoration to more multi-objective based approaches; acknowledging and emphasizing that forest restoration can yield multiple benefits for many individuals or groups, and ensuring that these can be realized.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103391
Bo Cao, Hongge Zhu, Yufang Wang
The existing literature primarily assesses the effectiveness of self-governance models in decentralized forest management, while studies on state-centered government regulation are scarce. This gap may introduce biases in comparative analyses of forest management models. This paper provides new evidence to evaluate China's government regulation model from a welfare perspective. First, we construct a material deprivation index (MDI) of forestry worker families based on a new individual-level household survey data collected from 56 state forest enterprises (SFEs) across three provinces in China. Second, combined with historical enterprise-level attrition data in SFEs, we find that, during the period of China's Natural Forest Protection Program, the “only-out, no-in” staff-reduction policy alleviated the material deprivation of forestry worker families. Various identification strategies including the instrumental variable method have confirmed the above causal relationship. Third, we further divide the MDI into three subindexes: quality of life, living environment, and social relations. We find that the cumulative staff-reduction scale has negative causal effect on reducing forestry worker families' material deprivation in terms of the second subindex, but has no effect in terms of the first and third subindexes. Lastly, when the sample is divided into two groups—households living on the mountain and down the hill—the negative causal effect exists only for the latter group. These results update the empirical literature on government regulation model effectiveness and provide significant references for comparative studies on forest management model diversity. They hold substantial implications for the innovation and optimization of forest management models in developing countries.
{"title":"Has China's “only-out, no-in” staff-reduction policy alleviated the material deprivation of forestry worker families? Evidence from China's Natural Forest Protection Program","authors":"Bo Cao, Hongge Zhu, Yufang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103391","url":null,"abstract":"The existing literature primarily assesses the effectiveness of self-governance models in decentralized forest management, while studies on state-centered government regulation are scarce. This gap may introduce biases in comparative analyses of forest management models. This paper provides new evidence to evaluate China's government regulation model from a welfare perspective. First, we construct a material deprivation index (MDI) of forestry worker families based on a new individual-level household survey data collected from 56 state forest enterprises (SFEs) across three provinces in China. Second, combined with historical enterprise-level attrition data in SFEs, we find that, during the period of China's Natural Forest Protection Program, the “only-out, no-in” staff-reduction policy alleviated the material deprivation of forestry worker families. Various identification strategies including the instrumental variable method have confirmed the above causal relationship. Third, we further divide the MDI into three subindexes: quality of life, living environment, and social relations. We find that the cumulative staff-reduction scale has negative causal effect on reducing forestry worker families' material deprivation in terms of the second subindex, but has no effect in terms of the first and third subindexes. Lastly, when the sample is divided into two groups—households living on the mountain and down the hill—the negative causal effect exists only for the latter group. These results update the empirical literature on government regulation model effectiveness and provide significant references for comparative studies on forest management model diversity. They hold substantial implications for the innovation and optimization of forest management models in developing countries.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-19DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103392
Mahesh Tiwari, Changyou Sun, Donald L. Grebner, Ayoung Kim, Eric McConnell
In the United States, family forest landowners own a substantial portion of the forestland. Some of the forestland is heir property, which is created when an owner dies without a will or with a defective will. Each co-owner of heir property has an undivided fractional interest in the entire land, and any co-owners can file a partition action to isolate their interest from the land. While a physical division of the land is possible, a partition action often results in a forced sale of the entire land and unwilling loss of land for some co-owners. In this study, published legal cases were utilized to collect empirical evidence of heir property partition on forestland, and furthermore, logit models were employed to examine the determinants of court decisions. The analyses identified several influential factors behind judges' decisions. These included whether incomes from forestland were shared among co-owners, the magnitude of fractional interest of a partition claimant, the presence of absentee co-owners, the physical and financial work related to the land, and the availability of detailed facts about heirs and land. The empirical findings have implications for heir property owners to administer their properties, institutions to design legal strategies for partition disputes, and policymakers to address and improve the legal framework encompassing heir property and its partition.
{"title":"Partition actions on forestland owned as heir property and the determinants of court decisions","authors":"Mahesh Tiwari, Changyou Sun, Donald L. Grebner, Ayoung Kim, Eric McConnell","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103392","url":null,"abstract":"In the United States, family forest landowners own a substantial portion of the forestland. Some of the forestland is heir property, which is created when an owner dies without a will or with a defective will. Each co-owner of heir property has an undivided fractional interest in the entire land, and any co-owners can file a partition action to isolate their interest from the land. While a physical division of the land is possible, a partition action often results in a forced sale of the entire land and unwilling loss of land for some co-owners. In this study, published legal cases were utilized to collect empirical evidence of heir property partition on forestland, and furthermore, logit models were employed to examine the determinants of court decisions. The analyses identified several influential factors behind judges' decisions. These included whether incomes from forestland were shared among co-owners, the magnitude of fractional interest of a partition claimant, the presence of absentee co-owners, the physical and financial work related to the land, and the availability of detailed facts about heirs and land. The empirical findings have implications for heir property owners to administer their properties, institutions to design legal strategies for partition disputes, and policymakers to address and improve the legal framework encompassing heir property and its partition.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103386
Emerson Carias Padilla, Alessandra Giuliani, Kang Subhadd Kanniya, Vuth Lay Heang, Tol Sokchea, Kalyan Hou, Jérémie Gilliéron
This study investigates the institutional, socio-cultural, and environmental factors influencing community participation in recreational forest governance in Cambodia. Recreational forests, essential for promoting well-being and environmental stewardship, face governance challenges that hinder their sustainability and economic viability. Using a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated institutional, socio-cultural, and environmental factors by gathering perspectives from stakeholders across three communities—Ou Khladek, Prey Kbal Bey, and Changkran Roy—to identify specific challenges and opportunities for improvement. Key findings reveal significant differences in policy implementation and community engagement among the communities, with Changkran Roy demonstrating effective governance through robust stakeholder collaboration. Conversely, Ou Khladek and Prey Kbal Bey exhibit inconsistencies in policy execution and community involvement. Demographic and economic factors further influence forest management practices, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies. Enhancing institutional frameworks, strengthening community capacities in financial management and tourist services, and fostering greater involvement of powerful yet disengaged stakeholders like the Forestry Administration are crucial. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of effective governance and sustainable management practices for recreational forests, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners.
{"title":"Community engagement in the governance of Cambodian recreation forests","authors":"Emerson Carias Padilla, Alessandra Giuliani, Kang Subhadd Kanniya, Vuth Lay Heang, Tol Sokchea, Kalyan Hou, Jérémie Gilliéron","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103386","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103386","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the institutional, socio-cultural, and environmental factors influencing community participation in recreational forest governance in Cambodia. Recreational forests, essential for promoting well-being and environmental stewardship, face governance challenges that hinder their sustainability and economic viability. Using a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated institutional, socio-cultural, and environmental factors by gathering perspectives from stakeholders across three communities—Ou Khladek, Prey Kbal Bey, and Changkran Roy—to identify specific challenges and opportunities for improvement. Key findings reveal significant differences in policy implementation and community engagement among the communities, with Changkran Roy demonstrating effective governance through robust stakeholder collaboration. Conversely, Ou Khladek and Prey Kbal Bey exhibit inconsistencies in policy execution and community involvement. Demographic and economic factors further influence forest management practices, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies. Enhancing institutional frameworks, strengthening community capacities in financial management and tourist services, and fostering greater involvement of powerful yet disengaged stakeholders like the Forestry Administration are crucial. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of effective governance and sustainable management practices for recreational forests, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and practitioners.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142873971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103395
Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, Shambhu Charmakar, Roland Azibo Balgah, Lukas Giessen
Since its introduction about a decade ago, the Actor-Centered-Power (ACP) theoretical approach has been applied to analyze power manifestations and outcomes – particularly in forest resource management. This approach emphasized three power features, namely, coercion, (dis)incentives and dominant information. After a decade of empirical validation, it is imperative to take stock of its application while reflecting on potential “missing power features” in the ACP. In this paper, we propose four “missing power features” in the ACP theoretical approach. These include social cohesion (the societal glue), geography (landscape remoteness), process (the switch in the roles of potentates and subordinates in the same transaction), and convictions (narratives that steer an us-versus-them discourse). A fifth overarching missing element is time – here we argue that all power features in the ACP have a temporal dimension. The paper draws from theoretical reflections in other power studies, and a systematic review of 61 empirical literature on power in forest management institutions. To verify empirical trends from the systematic reviews through a contemporary example, qualitative data generated through the interview of key informants (n = 51), experts (n = 12), and focus group discussions (n = 10) from two cases in Central Africa is provided. Analysis of articles selected through systematic reviews and own empirical data allows us to draw the following conclusions: Firstly, 88 % of the reviewed papers captured the four missing power features with social cohesion and geographical remoteness dominating the literature (67 %). Secondly, empirical insights from the two cases in Central Africa confirmed the recurrence of social cohesion linked to ties with forest-related livelihood strategies, and geographical remoteness which enhances insecurity. Thirdly, conservation interventions are also shaped by the power and potency of process, indicating a role switch between the potentate and subordinate within the same transaction, and convictions linked to people's heritage. While process, social cohesion and convictions presents a useful opportunity for an actor-cum-institutions theoretical framework, geography elucidates the scale dimension which should be clarified. We suggest the incorporation of these power features with time standing as an overarching power feature.
{"title":"“Missing” power features in the Actor-Centered-Power framework: Systematic review and empirical insights from Central Africa's Dja and Faro Landscapes","authors":"Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, Shambhu Charmakar, Roland Azibo Balgah, Lukas Giessen","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103395","url":null,"abstract":"Since its introduction about a decade ago, the Actor-Centered-Power (ACP) theoretical approach has been applied to analyze power manifestations and outcomes – particularly in forest resource management. This approach emphasized three power features, namely, coercion, (dis)incentives and dominant information. After a decade of empirical validation, it is imperative to take stock of its application while reflecting on potential “missing power features” in the ACP. In this paper, we propose four “missing power features” in the ACP theoretical approach. These include <ce:italic>social cohesion</ce:italic> (the societal glue), <ce:italic>geography</ce:italic> (landscape remoteness), <ce:italic>process</ce:italic> (the switch in the roles of potentates and subordinates in the same transaction), and <ce:italic>convictions</ce:italic> (narratives that steer an us-versus-them discourse). A fifth overarching missing element is <ce:italic>time</ce:italic> – here we argue that all power features in the ACP have a temporal dimension. The paper draws from theoretical reflections in other power studies, and a systematic review of 61 empirical literature on power in forest management institutions. To verify empirical trends from the systematic reviews through a contemporary example, qualitative data generated through the interview of key informants (<ce:italic>n</ce:italic> = 51), experts (<ce:italic>n</ce:italic> = 12), and focus group discussions (<ce:italic>n</ce:italic> = 10) from two cases in Central Africa is provided. Analysis of articles selected through systematic reviews and own empirical data allows us to draw the following conclusions: Firstly, 88 % of the reviewed papers captured the four missing power features with <ce:italic>social cohesion</ce:italic> and <ce:italic>geographical remoteness</ce:italic> dominating the literature (67 %). Secondly, empirical insights from the two cases in Central Africa confirmed the recurrence of <ce:italic>social cohesion</ce:italic> linked to ties with forest-related livelihood strategies, and <ce:italic>geographical remoteness</ce:italic> which enhances insecurity. Thirdly, conservation interventions are also shaped by the power and potency of <ce:italic>process</ce:italic>, indicating a role switch between the potentate and subordinate within the same transaction, and convictions linked to people's heritage. While <ce:italic>process, social cohesion and convictions</ce:italic> presents a useful opportunity for an actor-cum-institutions theoretical framework, geography elucidates the scale dimension which should be clarified. We suggest the incorporation of these power features with time standing as an overarching power feature.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103382
Theresa Klara Loch, Daniela Kleinschmit
This study evaluates the role of social network research in exploring its current application within forest research and identify potential for building connections. Through a systematic literature review of 135 articles, we investigate the theoretical and methodological nuances of social network research, highlighting the predominance of ontological and epistemological underpinnings of network theories as well as the pre-eminence of structural approaches. Our review identifies a significant emphasis on second-generation social network analysis (SNA) methods in the literature, which primarily focus on network structures. We find a limited application of relational and ideational perspectives offered by first and third-generation approaches. The literature review reveals that social network theories, although crucial, are underutilized beyond their ontological and epistemological underpinnings in forest research. Our findings demonstrate that social networks are essential for knowledge exchange, trust and power. However, the integration of comprehensive social network theories into forest research remains limited, suggesting the potential for further application in forest research. We emphasize the need for a more diversified methodological approach that extends beyond structural analysis to include more qualitative and ideational frameworks. By broadening the scope of social network applications, forest research can more effectively tackle the complexities of sustainable management and governance. This shift could lead to more robust strategies to cope with the challenges posed by environmental changes and complex stakeholder dynamics in forest governance.
{"title":"Building connections: Exploring social network research in forest sciences","authors":"Theresa Klara Loch, Daniela Kleinschmit","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103382","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103382","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluates the role of social network research in exploring its current application within forest research and identify potential for building connections. Through a systematic literature review of 135 articles, we investigate the theoretical and methodological nuances of social network research, highlighting the predominance of ontological and epistemological underpinnings of network theories as well as the pre-eminence of structural approaches. Our review identifies a significant emphasis on second-generation social network analysis (SNA) methods in the literature, which primarily focus on network structures. We find a limited application of relational and ideational perspectives offered by first and third-generation approaches. The literature review reveals that social network theories, although crucial, are underutilized beyond their ontological and epistemological underpinnings in forest research. Our findings demonstrate that social networks are essential for knowledge exchange, trust and power. However, the integration of comprehensive social network theories into forest research remains limited, suggesting the potential for further application in forest research. We emphasize the need for a more diversified methodological approach that extends beyond structural analysis to include more qualitative and ideational frameworks. By broadening the scope of social network applications, forest research can more effectively tackle the complexities of sustainable management and governance. This shift could lead to more robust strategies to cope with the challenges posed by environmental changes and complex stakeholder dynamics in forest governance.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103387
Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Kim Hong Tang, Andrew Lowe
This paper explores the perceptions of 114 Vietnamese companies regarding the opportunities and challenges they face in trading timber and wood with African countries, drawing the implications for future implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Vietnam and African countries. More than half of the surveyed companies imported African timber for construction, raw material resale, and furniture production. For most companies surveyed, imported African timber was used in 25 %–50 % of their products; just 10 % of companies were entirely dependent on imported African timber. Surveyed companies had a diverse supplier list, with those from the United States and European Union contributing higher percentages of timber than their African counterparts. African countries were considered high-risk for illegal logging; yet surveyed companies also believed African timber imports to be an opportunity due to the continent's significant expanse of tropical forests, high consumer demand for African timber, and favourable conditions when dealing with African businesses. However, importing African timber also brought major challenges for Vietnamese companies due to pressure from consumer countries to ensure timber product legality, and due to the lack of accountable, transparent governance and legal frameworks – in both Vietnam and African countries – required to validate sources. Our paper sheds light on challenges for timber- and wood-processing companies in Vietnam in complying with the EUDR and highlights the need to strengthen governance frameworks around timber imports and exports in Vietnam, African countries and consumer countries to monitor and control the illegal timber trade.
{"title":"Policy forum: Opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese companies to source sustainable timber from Africa, and implications for future implementation of the EU deforestation regulation","authors":"Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Kim Hong Tang, Andrew Lowe","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103387","url":null,"abstract":"This paper explores the perceptions of 114 Vietnamese companies regarding the opportunities and challenges they face in trading timber and wood with African countries, drawing the implications for future implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in Vietnam and African countries. More than half of the surveyed companies imported African timber for construction, raw material resale, and furniture production. For most companies surveyed, imported African timber was used in 25 %–50 % of their products; just 10 % of companies were entirely dependent on imported African timber. Surveyed companies had a diverse supplier list, with those from the United States and European Union contributing higher percentages of timber than their African counterparts. African countries were considered high-risk for illegal logging; yet surveyed companies also believed African timber imports to be an opportunity due to the continent's significant expanse of tropical forests, high consumer demand for African timber, and favourable conditions when dealing with African businesses. However, importing African timber also brought major challenges for Vietnamese companies due to pressure from consumer countries to ensure timber product legality, and due to the lack of accountable, transparent governance and legal frameworks – in both Vietnam and African countries – required to validate sources. Our paper sheds light on challenges for timber- and wood-processing companies in Vietnam in complying with the EUDR and highlights the need to strengthen governance frameworks around timber imports and exports in Vietnam, African countries and consumer countries to monitor and control the illegal timber trade.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The significance of urban forests and green spaces is unquestionable, yet their maintenance is frequently hindered by the conflicting interests of various actors and power imbalances. Unfortunately, despite the vast recognition by many scholars that power is central to resource management, the subject has not received deserving attention in urban forestry and green spaces studies. This paper bridges this knowledge gap. It explores the actors, interest and power in urban forest and green spaces management as well as the sources of power of the various actors and what mechanisms do actors use to exert power and influence on the management of urban forest and green spaces. Relying on the actor-centered power (ACP) framework and a case study design, about 32 key informants and 396 urban residents were interviewed in the study. The research findings of the paper unveiled that various actors have interest in urban forest and green spaces for the ecosystem services and the problems they bestow on humanity. However, power is not uniformly distributed among the various actors who exert influence through a variety of mechanisms, including coercion and dominant information from which power is observed. The resultant effects were conflicting managerial roles and responsibilities for green spaces management affecting the sustainability of such space. By recognizing that power is dynamic but not solely concentrated within formal institutions but distributed among various actors with diverse interests and capacities, we recommend a more inclusive approach to urban forests and green spaces management. It necessitates the need for inclusive and transparent governance structure that consider the needs and dynamics of actors to ensure sustainable and equitable urban forest and green space management.
{"title":"Actor and power analysis in urban forests and green spaces management. Insights from the Garden City of West Africa","authors":"Patrick Opoku, Collins Ayine Nsor, Emmanuel Acquah, Dorothy Asare Akoto, Norbert Weber","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103389","url":null,"abstract":"The significance of urban forests and green spaces is unquestionable, yet their maintenance is frequently hindered by the conflicting interests of various actors and power imbalances. Unfortunately, despite the vast recognition by many scholars that power is central to resource management, the subject has not received deserving attention in urban forestry and green spaces studies. This paper bridges this knowledge gap. It explores the actors, interest and power in urban forest and green spaces management as well as the sources of power of the various actors and what mechanisms do actors use to exert power and influence on the management of urban forest and green spaces. Relying on the actor-centered power (ACP) framework and a case study design, about 32 key informants and 396 urban residents were interviewed in the study. The research findings of the paper unveiled that various actors have interest in urban forest and green spaces for the ecosystem services and the problems they bestow on humanity. However, power is not uniformly distributed among the various actors who exert influence through a variety of mechanisms, including coercion and dominant information from which power is observed. The resultant effects were conflicting managerial roles and responsibilities for green spaces management affecting the sustainability of such space. By recognizing that power is dynamic but not solely concentrated within formal institutions but distributed among various actors with diverse interests and capacities, we recommend a more inclusive approach to urban forests and green spaces management. It necessitates the need for inclusive and transparent governance structure that consider the needs and dynamics of actors to ensure sustainable and equitable urban forest and green space management.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"244 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-12DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103383
Preeya S. Mohan
This paper examines the critical role of international climate finance in supporting Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing climate change through Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) initiatives. By analysing data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Creditor Reporting System (CRS), the paper identifies significant disparities in the distribution of climate finance across various categories, including mitigation versus adaptation efforts, recipient countries, targeted sectors, funding sources, and financing instruments. These disparities, coupled with a troubling gap between financial needs and available resources, hinder the effectiveness of LULUCF projects to achieve the climate goals of the region. To address these challenges, the paper offers practical recommendations for Caribbean SIDS and their development partners. These include optimizing resource allocation within LULUCF, establishing methods to assess the effectiveness of climate finance, facilitating constructive dialogue with development partners, improving data collection and project design and alternative financing mechanisms. By providing these solutions and highlighting key areas for improvement, the paper aims to empower Caribbean SIDS to bridge the LULUCF financing gap, ultimately contributing to achieving their climate goals and promoting sustainable land management and forestry practices.
{"title":"International climate finance in land use, land use change and forestry in Caribbean Small Island Developing States","authors":"Preeya S. Mohan","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103383","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103383","url":null,"abstract":"This paper examines the critical role of international climate finance in supporting Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing climate change through Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) initiatives. By analysing data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Creditor Reporting System (CRS), the paper identifies significant disparities in the distribution of climate finance across various categories, including mitigation versus adaptation efforts, recipient countries, targeted sectors, funding sources, and financing instruments. These disparities, coupled with a troubling gap between financial needs and available resources, hinder the effectiveness of LULUCF projects to achieve the climate goals of the region. To address these challenges, the paper offers practical recommendations for Caribbean SIDS and their development partners. These include optimizing resource allocation within LULUCF, establishing methods to assess the effectiveness of climate finance, facilitating constructive dialogue with development partners, improving data collection and project design and alternative financing mechanisms. By providing these solutions and highlighting key areas for improvement, the paper aims to empower Caribbean SIDS to bridge the LULUCF financing gap, ultimately contributing to achieving their climate goals and promoting sustainable land management and forestry practices.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study evaluates the significance of homestead agroforestry (HAF) systems for rural livelihoods in Sivasagar District of Assam, India, using Livelihood Significance Index (LSI). The research integrates both quantitative and qualitative methods to offer a comprehensive analysis of how HAF systems contribute to rural livelihoods. The study reveals that the importance of various HAF plant species has undergone significant shifts over the past decade due to socio-economic changes, such as rising household expenses, market-oriented economic transitions, and urbanization. Among these species, Bambusa arundinacea has the highest livelihood significance, with an average LSI of 2.79, although this has decreased by 0.71 % from 2012 to 2022. Conversely, Tectona grandis, despite its low livelihood significance, has experienced a decadal increase in LSI of 20.5 %. This indicates that, while such species currently play a lesser role in community livelihoods, their importance is gradually increasing due to their economic benefits. The study also identifies several challenges, including the loss of traditional knowledge, the vulnerability of agroforestry systems to environmental changes, and difficulties in maintaining biodiversity amidst market pressures. To address these issues, the study advocates for sustainable agroforestry practices in the district that integrate both traditional and economically valuable species while improving market access for traditional products. In flood-prone villages like Afala, introducing flood-resistant species such as Mangifera indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, and Bambusa arundinacea, along with training in value-added production, can enhance resilience and livelihood sustainability. Together, these approaches aim to cultivate a resilient and sustainable agroforestry landscape in Sivasagar District and beyond.
{"title":"Assessing homestead agroforestry-based livelihoods in Sivasagar District of Assam, India, using livelihood significance index (LSI)","authors":"Barasha Rani Das, Manash Jyoti Bhuyan, Nityananda Deka, Prasanta Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2024.103388","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluates the significance of homestead agroforestry (HAF) systems for rural livelihoods in Sivasagar District of Assam, India, using Livelihood Significance Index (LSI). The research integrates both quantitative and qualitative methods to offer a comprehensive analysis of how HAF systems contribute to rural livelihoods. The study reveals that the importance of various HAF plant species has undergone significant shifts over the past decade due to socio-economic changes, such as rising household expenses, market-oriented economic transitions, and urbanization. Among these species, <ce:italic>Bambusa arundinacea</ce:italic> has the highest livelihood significance, with an average LSI of 2.79, although this has decreased by 0.71 % from 2012 to 2022. Conversely, <ce:italic>Tectona grandis</ce:italic>, despite its low livelihood significance, has experienced a decadal increase in LSI of 20.5 %. This indicates that, while such species currently play a lesser role in community livelihoods, their importance is gradually increasing due to their economic benefits. The study also identifies several challenges, including the loss of traditional knowledge, the vulnerability of agroforestry systems to environmental changes, and difficulties in maintaining biodiversity amidst market pressures. To address these issues, the study advocates for sustainable agroforestry practices in the district that integrate both traditional and economically valuable species while improving market access for traditional products. In flood-prone villages like Afala, introducing flood-resistant species such as <ce:italic>Mangifera indica</ce:italic>, <ce:italic>Artocarpus heterophyllus</ce:italic>, and <ce:italic>Bambusa arundinacea</ce:italic>, along with training in value-added production, can enhance resilience and livelihood sustainability. Together, these approaches aim to cultivate a resilient and sustainable agroforestry landscape in Sivasagar District and beyond.","PeriodicalId":12451,"journal":{"name":"Forest Policy and Economics","volume":"38 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142823121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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