Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania

Jens Friis Lund; Neil D. Burgess; Shabani A.O. Chamshama; Klaus Dons; Jack A. Isango; George C. Kajembe; Henrik Meilby; Francis Moyo; Yonika M. Ngaga; Stephen E. Ngowi; Marco A. Njana; Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa; Kathrine Skeie; Ida Theilade; Thorsten Treue

doi:10.1017/S0376892914000241

Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania

Jens Friis Lund, Neil D. Burgess, Shabani A.O. Chamshama, Klaus Dons, Jack A. Isango, George C. Kajembe, Henrik Meilby, Francis Moyo, Yonika M. Ngaga, Stephen E. Ngowi, Marco A. Njana, Ezekiel Edward Mwakalukwa, Kathrine Skeie, Ida Theilade, Thorsten Treue

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Nearly 10% of the world's total forest area is formally owned by communities and indigenous groups, yet knowledge of the effects of decentralized forest management approaches on conservation (and livelihood) impacts remains elusive. In this paper, the conservation impact of decentralized forest management on two forests in Tanzania was evaluated using a mixed method approach. Current forest condition, forest increment and forest use patterns were assessed through forest inventories, and changes in forest disturbance levels before and after the implementation of decentralized forest management were assessed on the basis of analyses of Landsat images. This biophysical evidence was then linked to changes in actual management practices, assessed through records, interviews and participatory observations, to provide a measure of the conservation impact of the policy change. Both forests in the study were found to be in good condition, and extraction was lower than overall forest increment. Divergent changes in forest disturbance levels were in evidence following the implementation of decentralized forest management. The evidence from records, interviews and participatory observations indicated that decentralized management had led to increased control of forest use and the observed divergence in forest disturbance levels appeared to be linked to differences in the way that village-level forest managers prioritized conservation objectives and forest-based livelihood strategies. The study illustrates that a mixed methods approach comprises a valid and promising way to evaluate impacts of conservation policies, even in the absence of control sites. By carefully linking policy outcomes to policy outputs, such an approach not only identifies whether such policies work as intended, but also potential mechanisms.

Original language	English
Journal	Environmental Conservation
Volume	42
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	162-170
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0376-8929
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892914000241
Publication status	Published - 2015

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Lund, J. F., Burgess, N. D., Chamshama, S. A. O., Dons, K., Isango, J. A., Kajembe, G. C., Meilby, H., Moyo, F., Ngaga, Y. M., Ngowi, S. E., Njana, M. A., Mwakalukwa, E. E., Skeie, K., Theilade, I., & Treue, T. (2015). Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania. Environmental Conservation, 42(2), 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892914000241

Lund, JF, Burgess, ND, Chamshama, SAO, Dons, K, Isango, JA, Kajembe, GC, Meilby, H, Moyo, F, Ngaga, YM, Ngowi, SE, Njana, MA, Mwakalukwa, EE, Skeie, K, Theilade, I & Treue, T 2015, 'Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania', Environmental Conservation, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 162-170. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892914000241

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title = "Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania",

abstract = "Nearly 10% of the world's total forest area is formally owned by communities and indigenous groups, yet knowledge of the effects of decentralized forest management approaches on conservation (and livelihood) impacts remains elusive. In this paper, the conservation impact of decentralized forest management on two forests in Tanzania was evaluated using a mixed method approach. Current forest condition, forest increment and forest use patterns were assessed through forest inventories, and changes in forest disturbance levels before and after the implementation of decentralized forest management were assessed on the basis of analyses of Landsat images. This biophysical evidence was then linked to changes in actual management practices, assessed through records, interviews and participatory observations, to provide a measure of the conservation impact of the policy change. Both forests in the study were found to be in good condition, and extraction was lower than overall forest increment. Divergent changes in forest disturbance levels were in evidence following the implementation of decentralized forest management. The evidence from records, interviews and participatory observations indicated that decentralized management had led to increased control of forest use and the observed divergence in forest disturbance levels appeared to be linked to differences in the way that village-level forest managers prioritized conservation objectives and forest-based livelihood strategies. The study illustrates that a mixed methods approach comprises a valid and promising way to evaluate impacts of conservation policies, even in the absence of control sites. By carefully linking policy outcomes to policy outputs, such an approach not only identifies whether such policies work as intended, but also potential mechanisms.",

author = "Lund, {Jens Friis} and Burgess, {Neil D.} and Chamshama, {Shabani A.O.} and Klaus Dons and Isango, {Jack A.} and Kajembe, {George C.} and Henrik Meilby and Francis Moyo and Ngaga, {Yonika M.} and Ngowi, {Stephen E.} and Njana, {Marco A.} and Mwakalukwa, {Ezekiel Edward} and Kathrine Skeie and Ida Theilade and Thorsten Treue",

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doi = "10.1017/S0376892914000241",

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pages = "162--170",

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T2 - evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania

AU - Lund, Jens Friis

AU - Burgess, Neil D.

AU - Chamshama, Shabani A.O.

AU - Dons, Klaus

AU - Isango, Jack A.

AU - Kajembe, George C.

AU - Meilby, Henrik

AU - Moyo, Francis

AU - Ngaga, Yonika M.

AU - Ngowi, Stephen E.

AU - Njana, Marco A.

AU - Mwakalukwa, Ezekiel Edward

AU - Skeie, Kathrine

AU - Theilade, Ida

AU - Treue, Thorsten

PY - 2015

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N2 - Nearly 10% of the world's total forest area is formally owned by communities and indigenous groups, yet knowledge of the effects of decentralized forest management approaches on conservation (and livelihood) impacts remains elusive. In this paper, the conservation impact of decentralized forest management on two forests in Tanzania was evaluated using a mixed method approach. Current forest condition, forest increment and forest use patterns were assessed through forest inventories, and changes in forest disturbance levels before and after the implementation of decentralized forest management were assessed on the basis of analyses of Landsat images. This biophysical evidence was then linked to changes in actual management practices, assessed through records, interviews and participatory observations, to provide a measure of the conservation impact of the policy change. Both forests in the study were found to be in good condition, and extraction was lower than overall forest increment. Divergent changes in forest disturbance levels were in evidence following the implementation of decentralized forest management. The evidence from records, interviews and participatory observations indicated that decentralized management had led to increased control of forest use and the observed divergence in forest disturbance levels appeared to be linked to differences in the way that village-level forest managers prioritized conservation objectives and forest-based livelihood strategies. The study illustrates that a mixed methods approach comprises a valid and promising way to evaluate impacts of conservation policies, even in the absence of control sites. By carefully linking policy outcomes to policy outputs, such an approach not only identifies whether such policies work as intended, but also potential mechanisms.

AB - Nearly 10% of the world's total forest area is formally owned by communities and indigenous groups, yet knowledge of the effects of decentralized forest management approaches on conservation (and livelihood) impacts remains elusive. In this paper, the conservation impact of decentralized forest management on two forests in Tanzania was evaluated using a mixed method approach. Current forest condition, forest increment and forest use patterns were assessed through forest inventories, and changes in forest disturbance levels before and after the implementation of decentralized forest management were assessed on the basis of analyses of Landsat images. This biophysical evidence was then linked to changes in actual management practices, assessed through records, interviews and participatory observations, to provide a measure of the conservation impact of the policy change. Both forests in the study were found to be in good condition, and extraction was lower than overall forest increment. Divergent changes in forest disturbance levels were in evidence following the implementation of decentralized forest management. The evidence from records, interviews and participatory observations indicated that decentralized management had led to increased control of forest use and the observed divergence in forest disturbance levels appeared to be linked to differences in the way that village-level forest managers prioritized conservation objectives and forest-based livelihood strategies. The study illustrates that a mixed methods approach comprises a valid and promising way to evaluate impacts of conservation policies, even in the absence of control sites. By carefully linking policy outcomes to policy outputs, such an approach not only identifies whether such policies work as intended, but also potential mechanisms.

U2 - 10.1017/S0376892914000241

DO - 10.1017/S0376892914000241

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0376-8929

VL - 42

SP - 162

EP - 170

JO - Environmental Conservation

JF - Environmental Conservation

IS - 2

ER -

Mixed method approaches to evaluate conservation impact: evidence from decentralized forest management in Tanzania

Abstract

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