Indigenous exploitation and management of tropical forest resources: an evolutionary continuum in forest-people interactions

Background

Since the early 1980s, tropical forest management has increasingly embraced local community participation. Historically, professionals often dismissed indigenous practices, assuming local people either exploited or ignored forest ecosystems. However, empirical studies now reveal that many tropical communities have long practiced various forms of forest management—protecting, regenerating, and selectively using resources. These systems are often adaptive, culturally embedded, and integrated into broader livelihood strategies. The article challenges the dichotomy between "natural" and "domesticated" landscapes, showing that forests often exist along a nature-culture continuum shaped by centuries of indigenous interaction.

Goals and Methods

The article aims to enhance understanding of the diversity and evolution of indigenous forest management systems. Wiersum reviews case studies and literature across the tropics to identify recurring patterns and principles. He categorizes management into three technical activities: controlled utilization, protection and maintenance, and purposeful regeneration. The study then proposes a conceptual classification model inspired by agricultural development theories, arranging forest management practices along a gradient of increasing human input and forest transformation. It incorporates ecological, socio-economic, and institutional factors to explore how these systems evolve in response to pressures like population growth, market integration, and policy changes.

Conclusions and Takeaways

Indigenous forest management is diverse, dynamic, and deeply rooted in social and ecological contexts. It encompasses sacred groves, enriched fallows, managed wild species, and mixed plantations. These practices are often as effective as, or more adaptable than, professional forestry in balancing conservation and use. The paper presents a continuum model to classify forest management stages, from gathering wild products to cultivating domesticated trees. This model underscores the co-evolution of human societies and forest ecosystems. Wiersum advocates for recognizing and integrating indigenous systems into participatory forest management initiatives, cautioning against imposing rigid, professional forestry frameworks that ignore local knowledge and values.