Small-Scale Forestry最新文献

Tree-growing support programs are being implemented widely to enhance farmers’ involvement in land restoration schemes. However, the reasons why farmers will continue to engage in restoration activities when support programs end, considered here as “behavioural persistence” has not been sufficiently explored. Taking the Mogazang landscape of Cameroon as a case study, a mixed methods approach involving farmers surveys, key informant interviews and the review of literature, was applied to investigate the factors that influence the behavioural persistence of tree-growing farmers. Drawing on the concept of behavioural persistence, the findings revealed that farmers decision to continue restoration practices on their farm plots after the end of support programs is influenced by a mix of factors, among which positive attitude and perception of farmers, constant motivation, financial profitability, community influence, played an important role. Findings also showed that farmers behavioural persistence aspects were not adequately addressed during the design of support programs and the inception phase of support programs did not prepare farmers psychologically about post support programs. This empirical investigation of farmers behavioural persistence has provided information that needs to be taken into consideration when assessing the feasibility, including the designing and implementation of planned tree-growing restoration support programs and related policies in Cameroon and other countries.

Eucalyptus plantations are a notable source of income for smallholders and private landowners in Thailand. The main uses of eucalyptus are for energy purposes and as pulpwood, sawn timber, and veneer. Among private eucalyptus forest owners there is a need for decision support tools that can help in optimizing tree bucking, according to the available properties of the site and bucking patterns. The precise characterization of plantation properties is key to delivering appropriate timber assortment to markets and optimizing timber value. Our study has developed and tested dynamic and linear programming models for optimizing the tree bucking of eucalyptus trees. To achieve this, tree taper curves for use in volumetric models were defined for optimization. Our results indicate that both the tree spacing and the increment of diameter of breast height are significant factors when estimating profitability. The income would be significantly higher if bucking timber in different assortments were used, instead of the current approach of selling as bulk based on mass. For implementation, we created a free mobile application for android phones (EVO—eucalyptus value chain optimization) to utilize the study results at the grass root-level.

The chakra is the traditional agroforestry system of the Kichwa people in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Over time, it has incorporated cash crops (particularly cacao) as a way to improve the monetary income of indigenous households while preventing them from engaging in unsustainable practices. However, scarce empirical research has been conducted to determine if such a goal has been accomplished. Using data from a household survey (n = 330) conducted among the members of three cacao producer associations, we determined that households producing cacao in the chakra system are poorer and have lower land endowments than other Kichwa populations in the area. Cacao accounts for 42 and 19% of agricultural and total income, respectively, reflecting that, indeed, income from cacao is essential for the livelihoods of the Kichwa people. Multivariate analysis reveals that income from cacao is positively correlated with landholding area, but negatively correlated with the area in forest, probably reflecting that the need for monetary income encourages indigenous households to expand the area of chakra. The results also show that households having off-farm income and receiving social assistance are less dependent on cacao income. Overall, our findings reflect that, while an essential source of monetary income, income from cacao -alone- is not sufficient to meet household needs. Diversifying the basket of products with market value, strengthening research on agroforestry systems, and promoting chakra tourism are proposed as alternatives to increase monetary income and preserving the chakra system.

In the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia, rapid land use land cover (LULC) change and small-scale forest expansion has taken place due to the engagement of small-holder farmers. This study was aimed to understand the trends, magnitudes, drivers of LULC changes, and small-scale forest expansion in three Woredas of the northwestern Ethiopian Highlands, during 1987 to 2020 periods. The study employed a hybrid classification technique to group the images in to LULC classes. Moreover, key informants were used to assess the drivers of LULC change and small-scale forest expansion. The results indicated that small-scale forest increased from 2.5% in 2009 to 19.4% in 2020 in Fagta Lekoma Woredas. An increment of small-scale forest from almost none to 33% was also observed in North Mecha Woredas (1987–2020). Coverage of small-scale forest increased from 0.32% in 2009 to 7.9% in 2020 in Guna Begemidir Woredas. These happened as the expense of cropland and grazing land. Unlike during 1987–2009, cropland showed continuous decline during a period of 2009 and 2020 in all study Woredas. Grasslands significantly diminished by 65.6%, 47.4%, and 40.9% in Fagta Lekoma, North Mecha, and Guna Begemidir Woredas, respectively over the entire study period. In general, the landscapes of the study areas have shown remarkable changes across spatial and temporal differences. The main drivers of the changes in the LULC were associated with the shift of livelihood dependence and demand for various ecosystem services. The LULC changes in the study areas have implications on enhancing forest-based ecosystem services.

Systems for small-scale forestry are occasionally shaped by adopting models used by other countries. Such adoption is localized and adapted to suit needs and conditions of the country and reflects its specific characteristics instead of being simply copied. In this study, we examine the process of the adoption and adaptation of the forestry extension system in Japan and discuss the meaning of policy transfer across countries and the factors influencing policy development. Although the adoption of the forestry extension system was de facto a direct coercion enforced by the occupying United States (US) government in the early post-war era, in-depth analysis revealed it was a joint effort between Japanese and US foresters. The enthusiasm of foresters in charge of forestry extension enabled them to improve it into an idealized form. This first adaptation phase can be regarded as a very progressive step in view of trends indicated by a previous study. The adoption of the US model inspired and legitimized the new system. Results imply that policy development occurs at the level of the ruler, who sets the direction of the forestry extension, and the level of the practitioner, who is in charge of the extension activities in the field. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of examining the significance and effectiveness of policy transfers and the adaptation of adopted institutions at each level. However, motivation and perception of practitioners toward their work and allowance for voluntary initiatives given to them is the key to this notion.

Abstract

A growing body of literature shows that the transfer of forest land from one owner to another in the US is associated with events such as parcelization of forest land and/or the subsequent conversion of the land away from forestry land use. For individuals and families who own forest land, a key driver of ownership transfer is the eventual or actual mortality of forest owners themselves. In the State of Washington as well as the US nationally, studies on forest legacy planning reveal that most forest owners want their children or grandchildren to own their forest properties after they no longer own the forest. In contrast, the same surveys also show that a majority of US forest owners acquired their forest land by purchasing the land from a non-relative. We utilize the Washington State Forestland Database to conduct a non-parametric survival analysis of how long recently inherited forest properties remain fully owned by the new owners (i.e. there is no subsequent sale associated with the property) compared to forest land that was sold. Results show that inherited parcels have a significantly lower survival probability as measured by remaining solely within the ownership of the new owner relative to parcels that were sold within an 8-year period. This study quantifies how the mode of forest transfer influences the duration of the following ownership lifecycle and indicates that stewardship efforts should be tailored for owners who have recently inherited forest lands.

The customary management of natural resources in Ghana is hinged on belief system of the African Traditional Religion. Studies have shown the impact of foreign religions on many aspects of Ghanaian society, but less is known on influence of foreign religion on customary management of natural resources. This study examined the influence of foreign religion on conservation of sacred groves in eight communities in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. The influx of missionary religions, notably Christianity and Islam were identified as an indirect underlying causal agent to declining sacred grove area. Less reverence of traditional beliefs has led to sacred grove clearance for agriculture and settlement in some communities. The study therefore recommends re-enforcement of taboos and awareness creation on conservation value of sacred groves to halt further degradation.

Maple syrup production can provide significant value to rural economies and contribute to the long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems. Producers’ experiences vary based on their type of sugaring operation, so foresters, Extension educators, and equipment suppliers can more effectively support the expansion of maple syrup production if they tailor their outreach to the needs of each type of producer. Drawing on a survey of Wisconsin maple syrup producers (n = 657), this study compares the motivations, confidence in forest management knowledge, interests in learning, interests in new behaviors, desire to expand, and barriers to expansion among three groups of maple syrup producers: non-commercial, small commercial, and large commercial producers. Most producers were motivated by spending time in nature, and as might be expected, commercial producers were more motivated by finances than non-commercial producers. All three groups expressed interest in forest health management. The producers most interested in expansion were those who already sell for income, who are motivated by finances, who have fewer seasons of experience, and are newer woodland owners. Key barriers to expansion included efficient sap collection and a lack of time for non-commercial and small commercial producers, while workforce availability and a lack of capital were key barriers to expansion for both groups of commercial producers. Based on these results, we provide recommendations for audience segmentation strategies to support maple syrup producers through education, marketing, and research.