Is Decentralization Leading to "Real" Decision-Making Power for Forest-dependent Communities? Case Studies from Mexico and Brazil

Hajjar, Reem; Kozak, Robert; Innes, John L.

doi:10.5751/es-04570-170112

Cited by 36 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This was not the case in JFM in which farmers complained about the distribution procedure of Taungya farming plots, which was a contentious issue. However, the communities in both cases had a limited room to question or influence higher levels' strategic decisions, which is similar to a situation in Mexico where the communities' influence was limited to the operational level [100].…”

Section: Participation Intensitymentioning

confidence: 70%

“…The levels where community members can influence the decision-making are also important, for example, in strategic or operational sphere. In WUMs, as was the case in the study in Mexico [100], the communities in the CBFM engaged to the operational matters such as deciding on the days to access the forest. This was not the case in JFM in which farmers complained about the distribution procedure of Taungya farming plots, which was a contentious issue.…”

Section: Participation Intensitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Participatory Forest Management in West Usambara Tanzania: What Is the Community Perception on Success?

Luswaga

Nuppenau

2020

Sustainability

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Despite the increase in forest areas and villages under the participatory program over the last two decades in Tanzania, there is little insight into the communities’ views regarding their participation. This study aimed to explore communities’ participation in the participatory forest program in Tanzania. The survey involved 159 households, randomly sampled from four villages bordering state and community-managed forests, in West Usambara Mountains. The factor analysis summarised three components of participation. Economic, decision-making, and protection activities are used to formulate the participation intensity index. The study observed significantly higher levels and intensity of participation in the villages around the state compared to those around the community forest. Training attendance, trust on institutions, and location were significant predictors of participation intensity of the households. In conclusion, the perceived performance of the participatory programs in achieving the participation aims has been moderate with better results in the state forest jointly managed with the community. Raising awareness and improving communication with villagers, fulfilling promises for the communities, and provision of more forest-linked interventions are recommended to improve the situation in West Usambara.

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Section: Participation Intensitymentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Participation Intensitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Participatory Forest Management in West Usambara Tanzania: What Is the Community Perception on Success?

Luswaga

Nuppenau

2020

Sustainability

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“…However, national NGOs have remained sceptical about the input legitimacy of the REDD+ readiness process [83], considering it a government-and donor-driven process without the meaningful representation of local communities [84,85]. Similarly, non-governmental REDD+ actors in Indonesia have also perceived the national readiness process as externally driven and even detrimental for national sovereignty [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Dominant Voice amidst Not Enough People: Analysing the Legitimacy of Mexico’s REDD+ Readiness Process

Špirić

Corbera

Reyes‐García

et al. 2016

Forests

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Abstract:In the development of national governance systems for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), countries struggle with ensuring that decision-making processes include a variety of actors (i.e., input legitimacy) and represent their diverse views in REDD+ policy documents (i.e., output legitimacy). We examine these two dimensions of legitimacy using Mexico's REDD+ readiness process during a four-year period (2011-2014) as a case study. To identify REDD+ actors and how they participate in decision-making we used a stakeholder analysis; to assess actors' views and the extent to which these views are included in the country's official REDD+ documents we conducted a discourse analysis. We found low level of input legitimacy in so far as that the federal government environment agencies concentrate most decision-making power and key land-use sectors and local people's representatives are absent in decision-making forums. We also observed that the REDD+ discourse held by government agencies and both multilateral and international conservation organisations is dominant in policy documents, while the other two identified discourses, predominantly supported by national and civil society organisations and the academia, are partly, or not at all, reflected in such documents. We argue that Mexico's REDD+ readiness process should become more inclusive, decentralised, and better coordinated to allow for the deliberation and institutionalisation of different actors' ideas in REDD+ design. Our analysis and recommendations are relevant to other countries in the global South embarking on REDD+ design and implementation.

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“…Benefits through empowerment, which is a more qualitative characteristic than variables such as income, were mentioned in 47% of the studies reviewed. In Mexico and Brazil, for example, Hajjar, et al [74] showed that despite the fact that governments have maintained significant control over forest resources through heavy regulations on timber extraction, communities have effective decision-making power over the day-to-day planning and they derive considerable benefits from forest management.…”

Section: Livelihoods and Development Outcomes Of Community Forest Manmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Place of Community Forest Management in the REDD+ Landscape

Pelletier

Gélinas

Skutsch

2016

Forests

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Community forest management (CFM) is identified by many actors as a core strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+). Others however see REDD+ as a danger to CFM. In response to these contrasting views, we carried out a systematic review of CFM case studies to look at CFM's potential role in achieving forest carbon benefits and social co-benefits for forest communities. We evaluated the potential impacts of REDD+ on CFM. Our review showed that there is strong evidence of CFM's role in reducing degradation and stabilizing forested landscapes; however, the review also showed less evidence about the role of CFM in reducing deforestation. For social benefits, we found that CFM contributes to livelihoods, but its effect on poverty reduction may be limited. Also, CFM may not deal adequately with the distribution of benefits within communities or user groups. These insights are important for CFM-based REDD+ intervention; measures should be adopted to overcome these gaps. Innovative incentive structures to existing CFM are discussed. The recognition of rights for forest communities is one first step identified in promoting CFM. We call for sound empirical impact evaluations that analyze CFM and CFM-based REDD+ interventions by looking at both biophysical and social outcomes.

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Is Decentralization Leading to "Real" Decision-Making Power for Forest-dependent Communities? Case Studies from Mexico and Brazil

Cited by 36 publications

References 29 publications

Participatory Forest Management in West Usambara Tanzania: What Is the Community Perception on Success?

Participatory Forest Management in West Usambara Tanzania: What Is the Community Perception on Success?

A Dominant Voice amidst Not Enough People: Analysing the Legitimacy of Mexico’s REDD+ Readiness Process

The Place of Community Forest Management in the REDD+ Landscape

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