ABSTRACT

Many countries around the world are engaged in decentralization processes, and most African countries face serious problems with forest governance, from benefits sharing to illegality and sustainable forest management. This book summarizes experiences to date on the extent and nature of decentralization and its outcomes - most of which suggest an underperformance of governance reforms - and explores the viability of different governance instruments in the context of weak governance and expanding commercial pressures over forests. 

Findings are grouped into two thematic areas: decentralization, livelihoods and sustainable forest management; and international trade, finance and forest sector governance reforms. The authors examine diverse forces shaping the forest sector, including the theory and practice of decentralization, usurpation of authority, corruption and illegality, inequitable patterns of benefits capture and expansion of international trade in timber and carbon credits, and discuss related outcomes on livelihoods, forest condition and equity. The book builds on earlier volumes exploring different dimensions of decentralization and perspectives from other world regions, and distills dimensions of forest governance that are both unique to Africa and representative of broader global patterns. The authors ground their analysis in relevant theory while drawing out implications of their findings for policy and practice.

part |74 pages

Governing Africa's Forests in a Globalized World

chapter 3|23 pages

Elusive Meanings

Decentralization, Conservation and Local Democracy

part |157 pages

Decentralized Forest Management

chapter 6|18 pages

Hidden Harvest

Unlocking the Economic Potential of Community-Based Forest Management in Tanzania

chapter 7|16 pages

Gendered Representation and Participation in Decentralized Forest Management

Case Studies from Cameroon and Senegal

chapter 9|17 pages

Governance of Decentralized Forest Revenue in Central Africa

For Better or for Worse?

chapter 10|24 pages

Local Government and Forest Resource Governance in Mali

Taxation and Decentralized Management of Forest Resources in Siby Rural Commune

chapter 11|19 pages

Decentralization Outcomes in the Context of Political Uncertainty in Zimbabwe

A Comparative Assessment of Co-Management and CAMPFIRE and Implications for Policy

part |118 pages

International Trade, Finance and Forest-Sector Governance Reforms

chapter 13|21 pages

Trends in Ghana's International Timber Trade

Implications for Local Livelihoods and Sustainable Forest Management

chapter 14|17 pages

Forestry Governance and Trade Transformations

Experiences from Tanzania and Implications for Sustainable Development

chapter 16|16 pages

Free, Prior and Informed Consent

Implications for Sustainable Forest Management in the Congo Basin

chapter 17|19 pages

On the Nature of Intergenerational and Social Networks in the African Forest Sector

The Case of Chinese, Lebanese, Indian and Italian Business Networks

chapter 18|23 pages

Climate Change

What are its Implications for Forest Governance?

part |20 pages

Conclusions

chapter 19|18 pages

Forest Governance and Decentralization in Africa

Issues and Emerging Trends