Safety Nets, Gap Filling and Forests: A Global-Comparative Perspective

BACKGROUND

This paper seeks to prove how forests and wildlands are utilized in developing countries as safety nets to shocks, and how they provide resources for seasonal gap filling. The study was carried out in various developing countries in different continents. Areas where there is no forest at all were excluded and those completely forest covered such as those dominated by hunter- gatherers were not considered.

RESEARCH GOALS AND METHODS

The research intended to clarify the livelihood aspect of the people in relation to forests. Hence, 33 PEN researchers from January 2005 to May 2010, conducted interviews with 8,301 households in 333 villages and 58 sites spread over 24 developing countries across three continents. Of these, 7,978 households answered the final survey which had a question on shocks suffered during the last 12 months (the remainder constituting attrition). Four hypotheses were tested to examine their reliance on forests and wildlands as safety nets, pre and post shocks.

CONCLUSIONS AND TAKEAWAYS

According to the authors, results from this study challenge conventional wisdom, on the role played by forests in mitigating shocks and income shortages. It should not be assumed that forests always have important safety net and gap filling functions but this should be examined on a case by case basis.