A Comparison of Governance Challenges in Forest Restoration in Paraguay’s Privately-Owned Forests and Madagascar’s Co-managed State Forests

Background

Forest restoration is increasingly used to combat the degradation, loss, and fragmentation of tropical forests. In regions like Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest and Madagascar’s moist forests, reforestation and restoration initiatives aim to reverse forest loss. Reforestation typically involves planting trees, often exotic species, on previously forested land. In contrast, forest restoration seeks to recover most or all of a reference ecosystem. Governance challenges significantly impact the success of forest restoration, shaping decision-making processes and resource management. These challenges become more complex in larger areas with diverse landowners and users. Forest ownership falls into public or private categories, but community and traditional ownership also play a role. While forest management is increasingly decentralized worldwide, this shift does not always support the claims of forest-dependent communities. Different tenure arrangements can either exacerbate or complicate governance challenges, ultimately influencing the effectiveness of restoration efforts in regions such as Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest and Madagascar’s forests and shrublands.

Goals and Methods

The paper examines the factors that influence the success or failure of forest restoration under different property regimes in Paraguay and Madagascar, both biodiversity hotspots. In Paraguay, the authors focuse on privately owned forests, while in Madagascar, they analyze forests co-managed by the State and local community associations. The study employs an extensive literature review, interviews with restoration practitioners, and direct fieldwork. The paper evaluates governance factors affecting forest restoration, including processes, stakeholders, and institutions.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The study establishes that persistent governance challenges have limited the success of forest restoration in Paraguay and Madagascar. Weaknesses in laws, strategies, and incentives—key aspects of governance—hinder progress. Stakeholder interactions across different levels further complicate effective forest restoration efforts. In Madagascar, stronger tenure security, ecosystem goods and services, and payments for ecosystem services have incentivized local community participation. In contrast, market pressures in Paraguay have discouraged restoration. In both countries, weak government enforcement and unclear land tenure remain major obstacles.