Who owns Africas forests? Exploring the impacts of forest tenure reform on forest ecosystems and livelihoods

Abstract

African countries are at different stages of decentralizing rights and responsibilities for forest resources management to local communities. However, there is still reluctance on enabling security of tenure rights for different reasons. This lack of clarity on rights and entitlements has constrained the sustainable management of forests for livelihood improvement and wealth creation as well as for sustainable use. This is attributed to the lack of formal rights bestowed on rural communities deriving goods and services from forested landscapes. Understanding how decentralization has shaped access, use and management of forest resources by forest adjacent communities provides useful lessons and experiences that can inform ongoing debates on land, trees and forest and tree tenure that are critical in sustainable forest management. This paper explores: (i) the process and history of forest tenure reform in sub-Saharan Africa; (ii) how and why powers and responsibilities over forest resources have been decentralized and the extent to which Africas rural communities have the ability to exercise such powers and responsibilities to improve their livelihoods; and (iii) whether security of tenure over forest resources translates into improved wellbeing. A synthesis of the evolution of forest tenure in Africa provides an understanding of who really owns Africas forests and how such ownership shape forest resource management.