Revisiting the drivers of deforestation in the tropics: Insights from local and key informant perceptions in western Uganda.
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| Title: | Revisiting the drivers of deforestation in the tropics: Insights from local and key informant perceptions in western Uganda. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Twongyirwe, Ronald1,2 rtwongyirwe@must.ac.ug, Bithell, Mike1, Richards, Keith S.1 |
| Source: | Journal of Rural Studies. Oct2018, Vol. 63, p105-119. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | Deforestation, Forest conservation, Rural geography, Poverty |
| Geographic Terms: | Uganda |
| Abstract: | Abstract Deforestation has been widespread in the Northern Albertine Rift Landscape in rural Western Uganda. In this paper, we present perceptions from local residents and narratives from key informants on causes of forest loss during a 30-year period between 1985 and 2014. While the generic drivers we find are consistent with previous literature, we suggest that the specific context in which forest cover is lost in rural areas is path dependent, and this is vital for adequate management. In the Ugandan case, the history of the sugar industry and its relation to local political drivers and international considerations (e.g. biofuel) are prominent. Global drivers of forest loss therefore mask local-level complexities, but an amalgamation of local-level dynamics does not necessarily sum up to larger-scale manifestations (in a linear manner): striking a balance between understanding local-level and large-scale dynamics could be key in addressing the deforestation conundrum. We surveyed 263 households in 7 parishes around Budongo and Bugoma forests, and conducted 22 key informant interviews. Our findings indicate that the drivers and mechanisms of deforestation are local; they also vary between Budongo and Bugoma. Key amongst these include: agricultural expansion (28%–58.5% of the responses)—with large-scale commercial and small-scale subsistence farming significant around Budongo and Bugoma respectively; "poverty" (26%–76%) often alluding to heavy dependence on forests for livelihoods. Others include: population growth driven by dissimilar migratory patterns; and moving protected forest boundaries. Our data suggest that a combination of both local and key informant perceptions is instrumental in filling data gaps where a dearth of information is prevalent (especially around Bugoma forest), and is important for corroboration of other scientific data (e.g. remote sensing). However, a survey of wider literature indicates that there are significant issues missing from their stated views. While the continued expansion of cash-crop farming and lack of inclusion of local people in forest policy continues to raise concern, the stability of protected forest (i.e. Budongo and Bugoma) is encouraging and suggests a refocusing of the forest debate on practical working schemes for forest preservation and recovery might be the way forward for sustainable forestry and livelihoods. Highlights • Global drivers of deforestation mask local-scale complexities. • Drivers and mechanisms of deforestation around Budongo and Bugoma are local and varied. • Comparison of forest loss between locations reveals different migration and agricultural dynamics. • Debate about forest loss might benefit on a refocus towards what works for forest preservation and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Rural Studies is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 132184733 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Revisiting the drivers of deforestation in the tropics: Insights from local and key informant perceptions in western Uganda. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Twongyirwe%2C+Ronald%22">Twongyirwe, Ronald</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> rtwongyirwe@must.ac.ug</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bithell%2C+Mike%22">Bithell, Mike</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Richards%2C+Keith+S%2E%22">Richards, Keith S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Rural+Studies%22">Journal of Rural Studies</searchLink>. Oct2018, Vol. 63, p105-119. 15p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deforestation%22">Deforestation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Forest+conservation%22">Forest conservation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+geography%22">Rural geography</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Poverty%22">Poverty</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Uganda%22">Uganda</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Abstract Deforestation has been widespread in the Northern Albertine Rift Landscape in rural Western Uganda. In this paper, we present perceptions from local residents and narratives from key informants on causes of forest loss during a 30-year period between 1985 and 2014. While the generic drivers we find are consistent with previous literature, we suggest that the specific context in which forest cover is lost in rural areas is path dependent, and this is vital for adequate management. In the Ugandan case, the history of the sugar industry and its relation to local political drivers and international considerations (e.g. biofuel) are prominent. Global drivers of forest loss therefore mask local-level complexities, but an amalgamation of local-level dynamics does not necessarily sum up to larger-scale manifestations (in a linear manner): striking a balance between understanding local-level and large-scale dynamics could be key in addressing the deforestation conundrum. We surveyed 263 households in 7 parishes around Budongo and Bugoma forests, and conducted 22 key informant interviews. Our findings indicate that the drivers and mechanisms of deforestation are local; they also vary between Budongo and Bugoma. Key amongst these include: agricultural expansion (28%–58.5% of the responses)—with large-scale commercial and small-scale subsistence farming significant around Budongo and Bugoma respectively; "poverty" (26%–76%) often alluding to heavy dependence on forests for livelihoods. Others include: population growth driven by dissimilar migratory patterns; and moving protected forest boundaries. Our data suggest that a combination of both local and key informant perceptions is instrumental in filling data gaps where a dearth of information is prevalent (especially around Bugoma forest), and is important for corroboration of other scientific data (e.g. remote sensing). However, a survey of wider literature indicates that there are significant issues missing from their stated views. While the continued expansion of cash-crop farming and lack of inclusion of local people in forest policy continues to raise concern, the stability of protected forest (i.e. Budongo and Bugoma) is encouraging and suggests a refocusing of the forest debate on practical working schemes for forest preservation and recovery might be the way forward for sustainable forestry and livelihoods. Highlights • Global drivers of deforestation mask local-scale complexities. • Drivers and mechanisms of deforestation around Budongo and Bugoma are local and varied. • Comparison of forest loss between locations reveals different migration and agricultural dynamics. • Debate about forest loss might benefit on a refocus towards what works for forest preservation and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Rural Studies is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.08.013 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 105 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Deforestation Type: general – SubjectFull: Forest conservation Type: general – SubjectFull: Rural geography Type: general – SubjectFull: Poverty Type: general – SubjectFull: Uganda Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Revisiting the drivers of deforestation in the tropics: Insights from local and key informant perceptions in western Uganda. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Twongyirwe, Ronald – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bithell, Mike – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Richards, Keith S. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 10 Text: Oct2018 Type: published Y: 2018 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 07430167 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 63 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Rural Studies Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
