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Keywords = forest tenure reform

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17 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
The Practice of Community-Based Forest Management in Northwest Ethiopia
by Tesfaye Mengie and László Szemethy
Land 2025, 14(7), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071407 - 4 Jul 2025
Viewed by 500
Abstract
Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) efforts are critical for sustainable natural resource governance in Northwest Ethiopia. This study investigated the various aspects of CBFM, emphasizing practical implementation in the context of the Awi Administrative Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was handed out to [...] Read more.
Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) efforts are critical for sustainable natural resource governance in Northwest Ethiopia. This study investigated the various aspects of CBFM, emphasizing practical implementation in the context of the Awi Administrative Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. A structured questionnaire was handed out to 412 farmers across three districts—Dangila, Fagita Lokoma, and Banja. The quantitative data was analyzed using the Likert scale with SPSS version 23 software. Findings indicate that insufficient financial support (44%), limited community participation (30%), and weak institutional arrangements (19%) are the major factors impeding effective CBFM, with statistically significant regional variation (χ2 = 242.8, df = 3, p = 0.000). On the other side, increased awareness and international support (34%) and enhanced local participation (36%) were the leading facilitators (χ2 = 512.05, df = 11, p = 0.000). We look at the practical aspects of CBFM, from community-led conservation efforts to sustainable harvesting techniques, emphasizing the importance of indigenous knowledge alongside modern methodologies. The CBFM project in the northwest part of Ethiopia have facilitated biodiversity protection and environmental resilience by integrating local perspectives with broader developmental goals. However, obstacles such as land tenure, resource conflicts, and capacity restrictions continue, requiring adaptive methods and legislative reforms. This paper contributes to the ongoing discussion on sustainable natural resource management by offering empirical insights into the dynamics of CBFM in the Awi administrative zone of northwest Ethiopia. Full article
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25 pages, 2284 KiB  
Article
Does Collective Forest Tenure Reform Improve Forest Carbon Sequestration Efficiency and Rural Household Income in China?
by Xixian Zheng, Ruohan Peng and Wenmei Liao
Forests 2025, 16(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16030551 - 20 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 503
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of China’s Collective Forest Tenure Reform (CFTR) on forest carbon sequestration efficiency and rural household income, two critical indicators of ecological sustainability and economic development. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach, the study analyzes data from 31 provinces between [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of China’s Collective Forest Tenure Reform (CFTR) on forest carbon sequestration efficiency and rural household income, two critical indicators of ecological sustainability and economic development. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach, the study analyzes data from 31 provinces between 1997 and 2014. The results indicate that CFTR significantly enhances forest carbon sequestration efficiency through land use optimization and industrial structure upgrading. Moreover, the reform positively influences rural household income by increasing timber yield and facilitating labor mobility. The study also explores the heterogeneity of these impacts across regions, income levels, carbon sequestration efficiency levels, and carbon trading pilot areas. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to balance ecological sustainability and economic growth through targeted forestry management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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20 pages, 6544 KiB  
Article
State’s Techniques and Local Communities’ Strategies in Land Contestations over Agro-Based Community Forests in Myanmar
by Phyu Phyu Han, Win Min Paing, Masahiko Ota and Takahiro Fujiwara
Land 2025, 14(3), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030459 - 23 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 954
Abstract
Forest tenure reforms through community-based forest management programs have gained popularity in the Global South. Agricultural land use and local forest encroachment have caused the global decline of natural forests. Most community forestry (CF) studies have considered local communities as a state intervention [...] Read more.
Forest tenure reforms through community-based forest management programs have gained popularity in the Global South. Agricultural land use and local forest encroachment have caused the global decline of natural forests. Most community forestry (CF) studies have considered local communities as a state intervention target, underestimating their agency in local forest management. Therefore, this study aims to scrutinize land-related and counter techniques employed by the forest department and local communities in Myanmar to determine the incongruent and insufficient arrangement of de jure procedures in state CF programs. The findings reveal that although the CF program is deployed as a land control tool to regain the “reserved forest” status, realizing its institutional goals is difficult owing to local communities’ land utilization practices. Additionally, CF’s rigid institutional approach cannot manage changing, diverse, and minute local land control techniques. Meanwhile, local communities lack the indispensable, customary arrangements, leading to unequal land use, owing to which the state has to become a guarantor of common forest resources. Thus, this nature of contesting encroached forests reveals the need to critically reconsider land rights and invoke more profound steps beyond the framing of the contemporary “bundle of rights”. Full article
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15 pages, 774 KiB  
Article
The Key Factors That Influence Farmers’ Participating Behavior in Forest Management Plan Formulation Based on 1752 Households in China
by Zongfei Liu, Qianqian Yan, Yinxue Zhang and Mei Qu
Forests 2025, 16(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16010073 - 5 Jan 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 745
Abstract
Forest management plans are the bibles of forest management. On the basis of these plans, farmers play essential roles in forest cultivation, protection, and utilization. After the forest tenure reform in the 2000s in China, the status of farmers has changed. For example, [...] Read more.
Forest management plans are the bibles of forest management. On the basis of these plans, farmers play essential roles in forest cultivation, protection, and utilization. After the forest tenure reform in the 2000s in China, the status of farmers has changed. For example, collective management has decreased and household management has become a leading structure of operation and management. Farmer’s dependence on income from forests has increased, which is reflected in their increased participation in management. However, insights into farmers’ perceptions of and willingness to participate in the formulation of forest management plans are insufficient. This study analyzes the factors influencing farmers’ participation by using an econometric model based on 1752 samples of farmer households from 10 counties. The empirical results reveal that according to farmers, forest type and property rights influence their willingness to participate in the formulation of forest management plans. In addition, whether there is a village leader, the village distance from town, the circulation of forest land, the area of woodland, timber price, and forestry income have a significant positive impact on farmers’ willingness to participate in forest management plan formulation; the level of education and non-agricultural income have a significant negative impact on farmers’ willingness to participate in forest management program development. Finally, this study proposes to improve and deepen the reform of the forest ownership system, encourage land circulation, and give play to the role of village leaders in promoting the participation of farmers in forest management plans, so as to improve the efficiency of forest management. Full article
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25 pages, 1094 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Forestland Tenure Security on Rural Household Income: Analysis of Mediating Effects Based on Labor Migration
by Xin Luo, Lishan Li, Ling Zhang, Caiwang Ning and Xiaojin Liu
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081336 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1038
Abstract
Although collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) has improved the legal tenure security of forestland, its impact on increasing farmers’ income is unsustainable. This study used a multiple linear regression model to empirically analyze data from 505 farmers in Jiangxi Province, examining the impact [...] Read more.
Although collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) has improved the legal tenure security of forestland, its impact on increasing farmers’ income is unsustainable. This study used a multiple linear regression model to empirically analyze data from 505 farmers in Jiangxi Province, examining the impact of legal, actual, and perceived tenure security on rural household income, and incorporating migration into the framework. The findings indicate that both actual and perceived tenure security have a substantial positive impact on the total rural household income and forestry income. However, it is worth noting that legal tenure security only has a positive effect on forestry income. Furthermore, outside-of-county labor migration can serve as a mediator for the income effects of actual and perceived tenure security. However, the mediating effect of intra-county labor migration is not considerable. The study found that the increase in income due to the security of actual tenure security is significant for the group of people who own less than 50 mu of forestland. However, both actual and perceived tenure security have a significant impact on income for the group of people who own more than 50 mu of forestland. The aforementioned findings indicate that, in the ongoing extensive advancement of collective forest right reform, it is crucial to prioritize the execution of forest reform policies at the local level and enhance farmers’ awareness and comprehension of said policies. In addition, the government should enhance the monitoring system for policy implementation and intensify efforts in publicizing these policies, in order to fully utilize the benefits of CFTR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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28 pages, 2756 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Collective Forest Tenure Reform on Timber Production in China: An Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data
by Guang Yang, Hui Wang, Yanyu Hou, Xuemei Jiang and Mingxing Hu
Forests 2024, 15(2), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020312 - 7 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2000
Abstract
China initiated a new collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) in 2003, which transferred the use rights of collective forest land and the ownership of collective trees to farmers. To assess the impact of the CFTR on timber production and to understand its underlying [...] Read more.
China initiated a new collective forest tenure reform (CFTR) in 2003, which transferred the use rights of collective forest land and the ownership of collective trees to farmers. To assess the impact of the CFTR on timber production and to understand its underlying mechanisms, this study first conducted a theoretical analysis on how CFTR affects the production of commercial and non-commercial timber, leading to the provided hypotheses. Then, based on a panel dataset for 28 provinces from 1998 to 2018, a Time-varying Difference-in-Differences model was employed for empirical analysis. The results show that the CFTR led to an increase of 24.18% in commercial timber production and 34.37% in non-commercial timber production. The CFTR boosted the production of both types of timber initially, but the incremental effects were weakened over time. The incremental effects of the CFTR on commercial timber production was larger in regions with more collective forests. After the CFTR, the proportion of economic forest land in total forest land increased, contributing to a short-term rise in commercial timber production. In regions with higher timber market prices, reforms have a greater effect on increasing timber production, implying that farmers are more sensitive in their response to market values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economy and Sustainability of Forest Natural Resources)
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14 pages, 1026 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Tenure Security on Rural Households’ Forestland Investment: Evidence from Jiangxi, China
by Xiaojin Liu, Xuan Guo, Lishan Li and Fangting Xie
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091806 - 4 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1218
Abstract
This paper examines the distinct effects of actual and perceived security on forestland investment by rural households. To achieve this, we utilized Tobit and IV-Reg models to analyze repeated survey data from 500 households residing in 50 villages in Jiangxi Province during the [...] Read more.
This paper examines the distinct effects of actual and perceived security on forestland investment by rural households. To achieve this, we utilized Tobit and IV-Reg models to analyze repeated survey data from 500 households residing in 50 villages in Jiangxi Province during the years 2017 and 2018. We measured households’ investment in forest management by labor and cash inputs. The findings indicate that actual and perceived tenure security significantly influence forestland investment. Specifically, the possession of forestland certificates exhibiting a marked increase in labor and cash inputs. However, the logging quota system has a significant negative impact on cash input, but no significant effect on labor input. With regard to perceived tenure security, the evaluation and comprehension of the existing tenure policy by households contribute positively to both labor and cash inputs in forestland. From our analysis, it is recommended that the logging quota system be revised to incentivize farmers’ active participation in forest management, and the government should strive to raise awareness among rural households about forest tenure policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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20 pages, 1397 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Collective Forest Tenure Reform on Forest Carbon Sequestration Capacity—An Analysis Based on the Social–Ecological System Framework
by Chen Hu and Hongxiao Zhang
Land 2023, 12(9), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091649 - 23 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1493
Abstract
Against the backdrop of industrialization, urbanization, and the increasingly urgent issue of climate change, the latest round of collective forest tenure reform in China demonstrates the characteristics of institutional change and capital-biased technological progress. Using provincial panel data from 1994 to 2015, which [...] Read more.
Against the backdrop of industrialization, urbanization, and the increasingly urgent issue of climate change, the latest round of collective forest tenure reform in China demonstrates the characteristics of institutional change and capital-biased technological progress. Using provincial panel data from 1994 to 2015, which is related to the main task of the reform, this study combined the Social–Ecological System (SES) framework to explore the impact of the latest round of collective forest tenure reform on forest carbon sequestration capacity. The study found that (1) the collective forest tenure reform enhances forest carbon sequestration capacity, especially in areas with abundant collective forests and clear property rights. Regional differences in per capita forestry income do not affect the reform’s impact on this capacity; (2) the forest tenure reform affects carbon sequestration capacity by improving capital productivity, but labor productivity has no significant effect; (3) under the macro background, the interaction between forest tenure reform-supporting measures and factor productivity have a sustainable impact on carbon sequestration capacity. Therefore, deepening the collective forest tenure reform is an important measure for continuously improving the carbon sequestration capacity of collective forests. Full article
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21 pages, 476 KiB  
Article
Financial Literacy, Borrowing Behavior and Rural Households’ Income: Evidence from the Collective Forest Area, China
by Yuanyuan Guo, Can Liu, Hao Liu, Ke Chen and Dan He
Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021153 - 7 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5700
Abstract
Since the introduction of a series of collective forest tenure reforms in China, diverse forestland mortgage financial products have been available even in rural areas. It is difficult for rural households to make appropriate financial decisions in order to increase their income due [...] Read more.
Since the introduction of a series of collective forest tenure reforms in China, diverse forestland mortgage financial products have been available even in rural areas. It is difficult for rural households to make appropriate financial decisions in order to increase their income due to a lack of financial knowledge and relevant skills. It is important to analyze the relationship between financial literacy, borrowing behavior, and rural household income. Based on the learning-by-doing theory, the credit constraint theory, and the data obtained from the survey of 460 households in five rural countries of Liaoning Province, alternative econometric models were used to estimate the “Financial Literacy-Borrowing Behavior-Household Income” transmission channel. The findings reveal that the financial literacy levels are positively associated with household income and that there is an inverted U relationship between them which is low on both sides and high in the middle. In addition, the financial literacy has a significantly positive effect on the farmers’ credit behavior, which in turn promotes their income growth. The results provide a new perspective on the study and a clear explanation of the role of financial literacy in improving the loan amountsavailable in China’s rural areas. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers to prioritize financial education that will promote and support credit constraint reduction in collective forest areas. Full article
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18 pages, 1036 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Collective Forestland Tenure Reform on Rural Households’ Inputs: Moderating Effects Based on Off-Farm Employment
by Hui Xiao, Yang Xie, Fangmiao Hou and Xiaoyi Li
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111753 - 24 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1698
Abstract
Collective Forestland Tenure Reform has confirmed the forestland tenure of rural households and made forestland property rights clearer. In order to explain whether this policy is effective in improving rural households’ expected returns and sense of forestland tenure security, we built models to [...] Read more.
Collective Forestland Tenure Reform has confirmed the forestland tenure of rural households and made forestland property rights clearer. In order to explain whether this policy is effective in improving rural households’ expected returns and sense of forestland tenure security, we built models to study the impact of off-farm employment on forestland input in the context of labor migration to urban areas. We used data from the rural household tracking survey conducted by the Development Research Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Bureau from 2003–2016, which includes nine provinces (districts) and 1227 sample rural households in China. Regression models with the forestland titling program as the key influencing factor were constructed, controlling for household characteristics, household head characteristics, forestland characteristics, village level characteristics, market characteristics, and policy factors. Forestland leases had no significant on cash outlays and labor inputs. Forest tenure mortgage loans had a significant positive effect on cash outlays and labor inputs. For households’ off-farm employment, the moderating effects of labor migration on labor inputs and cash outlays are modeled separately. The study indicated that the forestland tenure titling certificates increase households’ enthusiasm in forestland production and promote cash outlays and labor inputs in forestland management. The results regarding the moderating effect indicated that labor migration has a positive moderating effect on rural households’ forestland inputs including labor inputs and cash outlays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
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17 pages, 286 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Influencing Factors and Income Effect of Heterogeneous Agricultural Households’ Forestland Transfer
by Juan Wu, Wenjing Yu, Xiaobing Liu and Yali Wen
Land 2022, 11(9), 1520; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091520 - 9 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2060
Abstract
After the collective forest tenure reform, the forestland transfer behavior choices did not reach the policy expectations. In order to explore the factors influencing the behavior of farmers’ forestland transfer and the income effect of forestland transfer, this paper constructs a binary logistic [...] Read more.
After the collective forest tenure reform, the forestland transfer behavior choices did not reach the policy expectations. In order to explore the factors influencing the behavior of farmers’ forestland transfer and the income effect of forestland transfer, this paper constructs a binary logistic regression model and a propensity score matching (PSM) model and uses the data obtained from a questionnaire survey of 500 farmers from 10 counties in Liaoning Province for quantitative analysis. Considering the heterogeneity, agricultural households are divided into three categories, namely, pure agricultural households, part-time agricultural households and non-agricultural households. The study found that the influencing factors of different types of agricultural households’ forestland transfer behavior choices were not exactly the same and the degree of influence by the same variable was also different. Forestland transfer can effectively promote the increase of agricultural and forestry income and total household income of pure agricultural households, part-time agricultural households and non-agricultural households, among which the promotion effect on pure agricultural households is the largest. Full article
22 pages, 748 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Collective Forestland Tenure Reform on Rural Household Income: The Background of Rural Households’ Divergence
by Jian Wei, Hui Xiao, Can Liu, Xiaotao Huang and Dahong Zhang
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091340 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2760
Abstract
As the direct subject of collective forestland tenure reform, increasing farmers’ income is an important goal of collective forestland tenure reform and the key to sustainable management of forest resources. Based on the survey data of 1276 rural households in 18 counties in [...] Read more.
As the direct subject of collective forestland tenure reform, increasing farmers’ income is an important goal of collective forestland tenure reform and the key to sustainable management of forest resources. Based on the survey data of 1276 rural households in 18 counties in 9 provinces, we construct a theoretical analysis framework of the impact of collective forestland tenure reform on household income from the perspective of rural household differentiation and elucidate the mechanism of the effect of collective forestland tenure reform on household income in the context of the rural household differentiation. The results of the empirical analysis show that, firstly, the collective forestland tenure reform significantly increases the total income, forestry income, and off-farm income of rural households, but the effect of income increase differs significantly among different groups of rural households with different income levels, showing the characteristic of “benefitting the rich more than the poor”. Secondly, as rural household differentiation deepens, there is a moderating effect of rural household differentiation in the income-raising effect of collective forestland tenure reform, i.e., collective forestland tenure reform has a stronger marginal effect on the forestry income of shallowly differentiated rural households and a weaker marginal effect on their off-farm income compared to deeply differentiated rural households. Finally, the income increase effect of collective forestland tenure reform shows significant situational dependence in both forestland operation scale and human capital endowment. The income-raising effect of collective forestland tenure reform is stronger for forestry income of large operation scale farmers, while it is stronger for off-farm income of small operation scale farmers; the income-raising effect of collective forestland tenure reform is stronger for farmers with high quantity and quality human capital endowment than for farmers with low quantity and quality human capital endowment. Therefore, this paper attempts to provide a policy adjustment idea to deepen the policies related to collective forestland tenure reform by starting from the farmer differentiation side. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)
15 pages, 1695 KiB  
Article
Has China’s New Round of Collective Forest Reforms Reduced Forest Fragmentation? A Case Study of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region
by Shuning Zhu, Jinlong Liu, Hao Xu, Lingchao Li and Wentao Yang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6183; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106183 - 19 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2464
Abstract
The new wave of reform of collective forestland tenure (NRCFT) in China is considered an important policy for achieving sustainable management of forest resources. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of NRCFT on forest fragmentation in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region [...] Read more.
The new wave of reform of collective forestland tenure (NRCFT) in China is considered an important policy for achieving sustainable management of forest resources. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of NRCFT on forest fragmentation in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region of China based on a fixed-effects model. The forest fragmentation was analyzed based on the remote sensing images of Landsat and landscape pattern indices in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region from 2000 to 2018. The results showed that (1) The NRCFT has significantly contributed to reducing forest fragmentation. (2) The effect of economic growth on forest fragmentation showed an inverted U-shape. (3) The implementation of the Grain for Green Program (GGP) and the transformation of rural energy consumption significantly reduce the degree of forest fragmentation. This study has crucial implications for formulating policies, achieving good forest governance, and reducing forest fragmentation. Full article
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17 pages, 940 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Impact of Forest Tenure Reform on Farmers’ Investment in Public Welfare Forest Areas: A Case Study of Gansu Province, China
by Yuge Wang, Apurbo Sarkar, Min Li, Zehui Chen, Ahmed Khairul Hasan, Quanxing Meng, Md. Shakhawat Hossain and Md. Ashfikur Rahman
Land 2022, 11(5), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050708 - 9 May 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2916
Abstract
In recent times, forest tenure reform has become one of the most discussed agendas among local and global policymakers. Forest tenure is a contract that specifies who has rights to forestry resources and depicts who should utilize, maintain, and acquire them. It can [...] Read more.
In recent times, forest tenure reform has become one of the most discussed agendas among local and global policymakers. Forest tenure is a contract that specifies who has rights to forestry resources and depicts who should utilize, maintain, and acquire them. It can have a significant impact on whether farmers invest in their forestland. The study’s primary purpose is to explore whether and how the reform of forest rights affects farmers’ investment in public welfare forestry. More specifically, the study thoroughly analyzes the impact of primary and supplementary reforms on farmers’ investment in public welfare forest areas. We have outlined the theoretical framework using the theory of property rights and utilized the fixed-effect model and the Difference in Differences (DID) model to achieve research objectives. However, the empirical setup of the study has comprised time series data of 500 farmers, which was collected via interviews conducted at regular time intervals (2011—before the reform; 2013, 2015, and 2017— after the reform). The collective forest land welfare areas in Gansu Province, China, have been selected as the key data collection area. The study concludes that: (i) although the principle reform of forest tenure can stimulate farmers’ investment intensity in the short term, it is insufficient in the long term. (ii) The supplementary reform of forest tenure can significantly promote farmers’ long-term effective investment. There is a significant difference in forest land investment between the experimental and control groups, and this difference gradually expands over time. The study suggests that the government should pay more attention to the relevance of additional reforms to encourage the growth of forest rights mortgages and circulation. Moreover, the core themes of sustainable development in forestry should be highlighted. Full article
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23 pages, 10048 KiB  
Article
Vulnerabilities and Threats to Natural Forest Regrowth: Land Tenure Reform, Land Markets, Pasturelands, Plantations, and Urbanization in Indigenous Communities in Mexico
by Elena Lazos-Chavero, Paula Meli and Consuelo Bonfil
Land 2021, 10(12), 1340; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10121340 - 5 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4344
Abstract
Despite the economic and social costs of national and international efforts to restore millions of hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes, results have not met expectations due to land tenure conflicts, land-use transformation, and top-down decision-making policies. Privatization of land, expansion of cattle [...] Read more.
Despite the economic and social costs of national and international efforts to restore millions of hectares of deforested and degraded landscapes, results have not met expectations due to land tenure conflicts, land-use transformation, and top-down decision-making policies. Privatization of land, expansion of cattle raising, plantations, and urbanization have created an increasingly competitive land market, dispossessing local communities and threatening forest conservation and regeneration. In contrast to significant investments in reforestation, natural regrowth, which could contribute to landscape regeneration, has not been sufficiently promoted by national governments. This study analyzes socio-ecological and economic vulnerabilities of indigenous and other peasant communities in the Mexican states of Veracruz, Chiapas, and Morelos related to the inclusion of natural regeneration in their forest cycles. While these communities are located within protected areas (Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, El Tepozteco National Park, and Chichinautzin Biological Corridor), various threats and vulnerabilities impede natural regeneration. Although landscape restoration involves complex political, economic, and social relationships and decisions by a variety of stakeholders, we focus on communities’ vulnerable land rights and the impacts of privatization on changes in land use and forest conservation. We conclude that the social, economic, political, and environmental vulnerabilities of the study communities threaten natural regeneration, and we explore necessary changes for incorporating this process in landscape restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Governance of Natural Forest Regrowth as a Restoration Option)
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