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Decentralization, forest management, and forest conditions in Guatemala
Top-down natural resource management approaches have been criticized as failing to sustainably protect forest resources. Decentralization of this management has become increasingly popular but there is a lack of consensus on whether or not decentralization has produced more effective natural resource management. Guatemala adopted a partially decentralized approach to forest management in 1996. This research examines the effects of decentralization on Guatemalan forest resources using a unique integration of social, physiographic, and land-cover change data. Results indicate that deforestation and reforestation rates both increased post-decentralization in areas with higher population and road densities, with a net forest cover increase post-decentralization. The primary shift was from passive forest conservation and monitoring pre-decentralization to an active forest harvest and reforestation effort. The number of employees dedicated to forestry activities is the most significant social variable in reforestation efforts post-decentralization.
Decentralization, forest management, and forest conditions in Guatemala
Top-down natural resource management approaches have been criticized as failing to sustainably protect forest resources. Decentralization of this management has become increasingly popular but there is a lack of consensus on whether or not decentralization has produced more effective natural resource management. Guatemala adopted a partially decentralized approach to forest management in 1996. This research examines the effects of decentralization on Guatemalan forest resources using a unique integration of social, physiographic, and land-cover change data. Results indicate that deforestation and reforestation rates both increased post-decentralization in areas with higher population and road densities, with a net forest cover increase post-decentralization. The primary shift was from passive forest conservation and monitoring pre-decentralization to an active forest harvest and reforestation effort. The number of employees dedicated to forestry activities is the most significant social variable in reforestation efforts post-decentralization.
Decentralization, forest management, and forest conditions in Guatemala
Paulson Priebe, Monica Erin (author) / Evans, Tom (author) / Andersson, Krister (author) / Castellanos, Edwin (author)
Journal of Land Use Science ; 10 ; 425-441
2015-10-02
17 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
The Community Commitment to Sustainability: Forest Protection in Guatemala
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