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ArticleCommunity-managed forest landscapes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts: a model of a resilient rural livelihood system in Bangladesh
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Village Common Forests (VCFs) of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in Bangladesh are the community managed landscapes that harbor rare native plant and animal species which profoundly influences local people’s livelihoods. The purpose of the investigation was to examine whether the VCF management system has any potential for maintaining a resilient local livelihood system in the mountainous landscape of CHT. The investigation was conducted in 2016-2018 in 20 VCFs located in remote hill villages that consisted of sample surveys of floral and faunal diversity in the VCFs and questionnaire-based surveys involving respondents from the respective villages to explore the community management practices concerning resources available in the VCFs and the surrounding agricultural and aquatic ecosystems. The communities meticulously maintain harvesting of plant parts and animals considering the seasonality and reproductive potential of the species. They closely monitor their forestry operations in VCFs, for example, through sporadically maintaining old growth trees in their forests, and protecting tree vegetation in peaks and cliffs of hills, bushy plants in the sloping areas, and bamboo clumps in the foothills in order to sustain availability of water in local water bodies. They follow forest management regimes that help maintain a regulated tree harvesting and a sustained flow of organic matter in VCFs in order to maintain soil fertility both in forests and in the surrounding agricultural lands. The villagers observe that agricultural productivity and diversity of crop land races in areas where no community managed forests exist has been declining due to inadequate soil fertility and availability of water. However, communities lack proper knowledge for monitoring events of climate change that affect their landscapes. Resilience of the VCF landscapes that support both livelihood and ecosystem functions could be further improved through sharing of knowledge among the communities. Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Landscape management, Sustainable forest management, Food systems, Agriculture. ID: 3483222 -
ArticleSuccessful 20 years of community forest management in Guatemala informs an Integrated Community Forest Management pathway to support scaling
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Research increasingly highlights the powerful link between environmental and social challenges and outcomes, and how local communities can be effective guardians of the forest. In the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala, which Rainforest Alliance supports since more than 20 years, a broad alliance has been made between forest communities, local and national government bodies, companies, as well as academia and implementing partners. This public-private alliance supports the local population in its responsible management of forests, as a powerful tool contributing to peace and social justice, as well as to human development. Impact studies show that the deforestation rate in the forest concessions is near zero, while protected areas and buffer zones nearby suffered high deforestation levels, and that the initiative contributes to all the 17 SDGs. Based on a learning inventory of the Rainforest Alliances’ work in Guatemala and other countries it operates in, we have broaden our approach in order to catalyze long-term transformation at scale. We have developed and tested tools and methods to foster an enabling environment and to support the deployment of viable community-based forest enterprises, implementing sustainable forest management, restoration or reforestation, and providing equitable benefits. We have organized this approach in an Integrated Community Forest Implementation pathway which is presented in more detail in this paper. To deploy this pathway, a unique coalition of corporate stakeholders, forest communities, Indigenous Peoples and regional implementing partners are uniting with the Rainforest Alliance within its Forest Allies Community of Practice. Using the Integrated Community Forest Management approach, we leverage the power of partnerships to protect and restore forests in critical landscapes while also empowering communities and improving livelihoods. Because we believe the best guardians of the forest are those who make their living from it. Keywords: Adaptive and integrated management, Community Forest; Sustainable forest management, Economic Development, Partnerships. ID: 3485602 -
ArticleSacred Kaya forests: Role in enhancing food security, climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation among the Mijikenda community in Kenya
XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
2022Also available in:
No results found.Sacred Kaya forests, located in Kenya’s coastal plains and hills, are sacred forests of the Mijikenda ethnic community. These forests have been preserved since the 16th century as sacred places where prayers, rituals and sacrifices take place, and their integrity and sanctity have been safeguarded by a council of Kaya elders who employ a system of taboos and traditional rules to protect the forests. Kaya forests provide vital ecosystem services such as biomass energy, food, air and water purification, pollination, seed dispersal, climate modification and soil stabilization which support local livelihoods. Despite their importance, rapid population growth, infrastructural development, cultural erosion and overdependence on natural resources by local communities are causing extensive degradation of Kaya forests with negative implications on biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods. A study was conducted to assess the role of Kaya forests in enhancing food security, community adaptation to climate change and biodiversity conservation among the Mijikenda community. Household questionnaires, focus group discussions, community meetings and transect walks were used to collect data amongst communities living adjacent to Rabai Kaya landscape in Kenya. The study revealed that Kaya forests are biodiversity hotspots. The diverse flora and fauna of the Kaya forests are sources of genetic resources for food, forestry and agriculture, and mitigate the loss of variability of plant genetic resources for food security and adaptation to climate change. The study recommends protection of traditional knowledge and strengthening of traditional governance systems such as the Kaya council of elders which underpin the conservation of Kaya forests for enhanced conservation and socio-economic benefits. Key words: Kaya forests, biodiversity, food security, adaptation and Mijikenda ID: 3486805
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