Goveing Africa's Forests in a Globalized World (The Earthscan Forest Library)

by: Laura Anne German (Editor),Alain Karsenty (Editor),Anne Marie Tiani (Editor)&0more

Publisher: Routledge

Edition: 1st

Publication Date: 2009/11/18

Language: English

Print Length: 444 pages

ISBN-10: 184407756X

ISBN-13: 9781844077564

Book Description

Many countries around the world are engaged in decentralization processes, and most African countries face serious problems with forest goveance, 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 goveance reforms - and explores the viability of different goveance instruments in the context of weak goveance and expanding commercial pressures over forests. Findings are grouped into two thematic areas:decentralization, livelihoods and sustainable forest management; and inteational trade, finance and forest sector goveance reforms. The authors examine diverse forces shaping the forest sector, including the theory and practice of decentralization, usurpation of authority, corruption and illegality, inequitable pattes of benefits capture and expansion of inteational 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 goveance that are both unique to Africa and representative of broader global pattes. The authors ground their analysis in relevant theory while drawing out implications of their findings for policy and practice.

About the Author

Many countries around the world are engaged in decentralization processes, and most African countries face serious problems with forest goveance, 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 goveance reforms - and explores the viability of different goveance instruments in the context of weak goveance and expanding commercial pressures over forests. Findings are grouped into two thematic areas:decentralization, livelihoods and sustainable forest management; and inteational trade, finance and forest sector goveance reforms. The authors examine diverse forces shaping the forest sector, including the theory and practice of decentralization, usurpation of authority, corruption and illegality, inequitable pattes of benefits capture and expansion of inteational 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 goveance that are both unique to Africa and representative of broader global pattes. The authors ground their analysis in relevant theory while drawing out implications of their findings for policy and practice.