Description
Book SynopsisThis book provides a novel approach to governance relating to biodiversity and human well-being in complex tropical landscapes, including forests and protected areas. It focuses attention at the interface between communities and the landscape level, building on interdisciplinary research conducted in five countries (Cameroon, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar and Tanzania). In each country, the research was set within the framework of a major national policy thrust.
The book improves our understanding of and ability to manage complex landscapes – mosaics of differing land uses – in a more adaptive and collaborative way that benefits both the environment and local communities. It includes both single country and cross-site analyses, and focuses on themes, such as resettlement, land use planning, non-timber forest product use and management, the disconnect between customary and formal legal systems, and the role of larger scale policies in local level realities. Chapters also analyze experience with monitoring and a local governance assessment tool. The work also provides guidance for those interested in management and governance at lower and intermediate levels (village, district), scales likely to grow in importance in the global effort to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
Trade Review'This book provides extremely valuable examples of the problems facing the governance of tropical forests. More importantly it details how these challenges might be resolved. It will help researchers, managers and policy-makers see beyond the rhetoric to concrete actions.'
Dr. John Innes, Professor and Dean, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia
'This volume represents a sobering 'reality check' for those hoping for quick improvement in forest governance - not least in the interest of climate change mitigation and adaptation -- through collaborative research and action bridging local communities and state actors.'
Frances Seymour, Director General, CIFOR
'In this book arising from carefully coordinated research in five countries, Carol Colfer, Jean-Laurent Pfund and their research collaborators explore the complex, muddled realities of landscape governance with honesty and evident empathy for rural communities. That they produce no simple recommendations is no surprise - but their conclusions are thoughtful, and the path to them full of local insights.'
Jane Carter, Intercooperation - Swiss Foundation for Development and International Cooperation
'The book argues argue that involving local people is critical to addressing global climate change and alerts readers to some of the recurrent realities encountered in such efforts'
Anthropology News.
Table of Contents1. An Introduction to Five Tropical Landscapes, Their People and Their Governance 2. The Governance of Tropical Forested Landscapes 3. Role of the District Government in Directing Landscape Dynamics and People's Futures: Lessons Learnt from Bungo District, in Jambi Province 4. Information Flows, Decision Making and Social Acceptability in Displacement Processes 5. Changing Landscapes, Transforming Institutions: Local Management of Natural Resources in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania 6. Traditional Use of Forest Fragments in Manompana, Madagascar 7. The Role of Wild Species in Governance of Tropical Forested Landscapes 8. Governance and NTFP Chains in the Takamanda-Mone Landscape, Cameroon 9. A Dozen Indicators for Assessing Governance in Forested Landscapes 10. Minefields in Collaborative Governance 11. The Essential Task of 'Muddling Through' to Better Landscape Governance
