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Document Author(s): Daniela Raik

This short article traces the history of forest management in Madagascar from its early centralized days to more recent attempts to decentralize forest management and involve communities. Although there is much lip service paid to local empowerment, bureaucratic arrangements and requirements essentially serve as a means to control the process. For example, tenure is not transferred, third parties orient management plans and zoning, the initial agreement period is very short (3 years). It remains unclear how much local communities can capture benefits from these policy "innovations".

Reviewer: Jon Anderson

Reviewer Affiliation: IRG/Engility

Journal: Madagascar Conservation & Development

Document type(s):

• Journal article

Star rating: ★★★

Regions:

• Africa - Southern
• Africa

Country: Madagascar

Natural resource(s):

• Forest

NWP Principles - Nature

• Promoted local land use planning and appropriate resource tenure systems - [Relevant]
• Promoted cost effective technical advisory and intermediary services - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Wealth

• Assured that resource managers have access to NRM means and benefits - [Relevant]

NWP Principles - Power

• Procedural rights for all people, especially vulnerable or marginalized groups - [Relevant]
• Natural resource authority and functions distribution - [Relevant]
• Local stakeholder input into public decisions and policy - [Relevant]

Constraints

• Economic/income generation - [Yes]
• Governance/empowerment - [Yes]

Additional Discussion Topics

• Lessons learned (Cautionary Tale)
• Governance - [External or structural policies that influenced success or failure]