Relations of power driving tropical deforestation: A case study from the mau forest (Kenya)

Abstract

The paper investigates the deforestation process in the Mau Forest (Kenya), highlighting the actors involved and the underlying relations of power. The proximate causes of the deforestation are three: Agriculture, wood production and infrastructures. In this context of pressure on natural resources, local communities have developed different projects to reduce deforestation and promote alternative development strategies, especially through the Community Forest Associations (CFAs). These dynamics show that deforestation is a complex issue whose solutions lie primarily outside the forest itself and that it should be tackled with suitable policies on crucial issues such as land, agriculture, infrastructure and indigenous peoples.