Community management means lower deforestation

According to the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), more than 13 million hectares (32 million acres) of forests are lost globally every year, an area around the size of England. Community-based forest management now comprises 8 percent of the world’s managed forests, and up to 20 percent of Latin America’s forests.

Recently released research says that more rule-making autonomy at the local level leads to better forest management and improved livelihood benefits.

Published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management, a new study compares deforestation rates in protected areas and in community managed forests and finds that community managed forests are at least as good, and sometimes better, at reducing deforestation than strict protected areas.

In the launch press release from Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Manuel Guariguata, one of the co-authors and a Senior Scientist CIFOR, explains:

“Our findings suggest that a forest put away behind a fence and designated ‘protected’ doesn’t necessarily guarantee that canopy cover will be maintained over the long term compared to forests managed by local communities — in fact they lose much more.”

“When done properly, the benefits of community-based management can be seen over the long term, leading to greater conservation participation, reduced poverty, increased economic productivity and the protection of many forest species,” Guariguata said.