Land Use Change and Trends

Community perceptions of long-term mangrove cover changes and its drivers from a typhoon-prone province in the Philippines

Background

Open access copy available

The use of non-wood forest products by migrants in a new settlement: Experiences of a Visayan community in Palawan, Philippines

Background

In the early 20th century, Palawan, historically a sparsely populated island of the Philippines, became a “frontier,” attracting migrants from other Philippine islands who sought land ownership. Previous studies of migration to Palawan focused on the difficulties of converting forests to farmland and the subsequent hunger these migrants experienced. Despite coming from agricultural backgrounds, the predominantly Visayan migrants in Dumanguena, a village located south of the Palawan capital, Puerto Princesa, had to learn new skills related to the collection and use of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) in their new environment.

Open access copy available

The social and ecological costs of reforestation. Territorialization and industrialization of land use accompany forest transitions in Southeast Asia

Background

Open access copy available

What is the contribution of forest-related income to rural livelihood strategies in the Philippines’ remaining forested landscapes?

Background

Open access copy available

Promises and potentials do not grow trees and crops. A review of institutional and policy research in agroforestry for the Southern African region

BACKGROUND:

Agroforestry has been recognized for its potential to address land management challenges, improve food security, and support rural livelihoods, but its widespread adoption remains limited. Institutional and policy barriers, including weak coordination among sectors and inadequate incentives, hinder its integration into national and local frameworks. Strengthening policies, institutions, and research on the social and economic dimensions of agroforestry is essential for its successful implementation and long-term impact.

Open access copy available

Complementary ecosystem services from multiple land uses highlight the importance of tropical mosaic landscapes

Background

Tropical agricultural landscapes feature a mosaic of diverse land uses, yet the ecosystem service bundles and materials they provide to rural households remain poorly understood. In northeastern Madagascar, shifting cultivation for hillside rice production and agroforests for cash and subsistence crops have largely replaced old-growth forests. The landscape consists of forest fragments, small-scale vanilla agroforests, rice paddies, and subsistence farming plots at various stages of the shifting cultivation cycle.

Open access copy available

Why environmental impact assessments often fail

Background

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) aim to mitigate the environmental costs of development, particularly in biodiversity-rich developing nations. While governments and corporations claim EIAs as safeguards against environmental harm from roads, dams, mines, and housing, many are ineffective or even worthless. Weak assessments fail to prevent projects that destroy habitats and endanger species. Key shortcomings include insufficient funding, narrow focus on immediate project areas, conflicts of interest among consultants, and poor governance that grants developers undue influence over policy decisions.

Open access copy available

Peasants, agroforesters, and anthropologists: A 20-year venture in income-generating trees and hedgerows in Haiti

Background

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Beyond Tenure: Rights-based Approaches to Peoples and Forests

Background

Open access copy available

Carbon sequestration in Africa: The land tenure problem

Background

Research on afforestation and reforestation projects highlights how tropical forests can store carbon on a large scale. Africa offers vast areas of suitable land for carbon sequestration through these initiatives. However, the author argues that land tenure issues in Africa create an obstacle to achieving this potential.

Open access copy available
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