Rural people's reliance on forests and the non-forest environment in West Africa: evidence from Ghana and Burkina Faso

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rural people's reliance on forests and the non-forest environment in West Africa

T2 - evidence from Ghana and Burkina Faso

AU - Pouliot, Mariéve

AU - Treue, Thorsten

PY - 2013/3

Y1 - 2013/3

N2 - Based on data from 1014 households in Ghana and Burkina Faso, we demonstrate that non-forest environmental products play a crucial role in rural livelihoods, especially for women and the poorest. Forest incomes are generally small but richer households and especially men from these derive comparatively higher value from forests than other groups do. Environmental income also represents a safety net for households facing crises due to illness or death of a productive households member, but apparently not when cropping fails. We attribute rural people's high reliance on non-forest vs. forest products to the two countries restrictive and inequitable forest policies.

AB - Based on data from 1014 households in Ghana and Burkina Faso, we demonstrate that non-forest environmental products play a crucial role in rural livelihoods, especially for women and the poorest. Forest incomes are generally small but richer households and especially men from these derive comparatively higher value from forests than other groups do. Environmental income also represents a safety net for households facing crises due to illness or death of a productive households member, but apparently not when cropping fails. We attribute rural people's high reliance on non-forest vs. forest products to the two countries restrictive and inequitable forest policies.

U2 - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.09.010

DO - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2012.09.010

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0305-750X

VL - 43

SP - 180

EP - 193

JO - World Development

JF - World Development

ER -