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This study builds on earlier quantitative ethnobotanical studies to develop an approach which represents local values for useful forest species, in order to explore factors affecting those values. The method, based on respondents' ranking of taxa, compares favourably with more time-consuming quantitative ethnobotanical techniques, and allows results to be differentiated according to social factors (gender and ethnic origin), and ecological and socio-economic context. We worked with 126 respondents in five indigenous and five immigrant communities within a forest-dominated landscape in the Peruvian Amazonia. There was wide variability among responses, indicating a complex of factors affecting value. The most valued family is Arecaceae, followed by Fabaceae and Moraceae. Overall, fruit and noncommercialised construction materials predominate but women tend to value fruit and other non-timber species more highly than timber, while the converse is shown by men. Indigenous respondents tend to value more the species used for fruit, domestic construction and other NTFPs, while immigrants tend to favour commercialised timber species. Across all communities, values are influenced by both markets and the availability of the taxa; as the favourite species become scarce, others replace them in perceived importance. As markets become more accessible, over-exploitation of the most valuable species and livelihood diversification contribute to a decrease in perceived value of the forest.

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Forest ownership is changing in Europe. Reasons include recent institutional changes in Eastern Europe, changing lifestyles of non-agricultural owners and afforestation. At present, 7 there is little comparative analysis across Europe, and the implications that these changes 8 have for forest management and for the fulfilment and redefinition of policy objectives have 9 not been addressed systematically. This paper has been developed in the framework of a 10 European research network on forest ownership change, based on conceptual work, 11 literature reviews and empirical evidence from 28 European countries. It aims to provide an 12 overview of the state of knowledge, to discuss relevant issues and provide conceptual and 13 practical foundations for future research, forest management approaches, and policy making. 14 In particular, it discusses possible approaches for classifying forest ownership types and 15 understandings of "new" forest ownership. One important insight is that the division into 16 public and private forests is not as clear as often assumed and that an additional category of 17 semi-public (or semi-private) forms of forest ownership would be desirable. Another 18 recommendation is that the concepts of "new forest owners" vs. "new forest owner types" 19 should be differentiated more consciously. We observe that, in research and policy practice, 20 the mutual relations between forest ownership structure and policies are often neglected, for 21 instance, how policies may directly and indirectly influence ownership development, and 22 what different ownership categories mean for the fulfilment of policy goals. Finally, we 23 propose that better support should be provided for the development of new, adapted forest 24 management approaches for emerging forest owner types. Forest ownership deserves 25 greater attention in studies dealing with forest policy or forest management.

Previous work has shown that African elephants Loxodonta africana will avoid African honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata. Here we present results from a pilot study conducted to evaluate the concept of using beehives to mitigate elephant crop depredation. In Laikipia, Kenya, we deployed a 90-m fence-line of nine inter-connected hives, all empty, on two exposed sides of a square two-acre farm that was experiencing high levels of elephant crop depredation. Compared with a nearby control farm of similar status and size, our experimental farm experienced fewer raids and consequently had higher productivity. Socioeconomic indicators suggest that not only was the concept of a beehive fence popular and desired by the community but also that it can pay for its construction costs through the sale of honey and bee products. We are calling for experiments testing this concept of a 'guardian beehive-fence' to be conducted rigorously and scientifically in as wide a range of agricultural settings as possible to evaluate jointly its effectiveness and efficiency.Key words: African elephants, beekeeping, behaviour, crop raiding, deterrents, human-elephant conflict RésuméDes travaux antérieurs ont montré que les éléphants africains Loxodonta africana évitent les abeilles africaines Apis mellifera scutellata. Nous présentons ici les résultats d'une étude pilote réalisée pour évaluer le concept consistant à utiliser des ruches pour réduire la destruction des cultures par les éléphants. A Laikipia, au Kenya, nous avons installé une barrière de 90 m. de long composée de neuf ruches interconnectées, toutes vides, sur deux côtés exposés d'une ferme carrée de deux acres (arpents) dont les cultures subissaient une forte déprédation causée par les éléphants. Comparée à une ferme contrôle voisine, de statut et de taille comparables, notre ferme expérimentale a subi moins de raids et a donc eu une meilleure productivité. Des indicateurs socioéconomiques suggèrent que non seulement le concept de barrière en ruches était populaire et souhaité par la communauté, mais qu'il peut même couvrir les frais de sa propre construction grâce à la vente de miel et autres produits dérivés. Nous sollicitons que des expériences soient faites pour tester ce concept de « clôture en ruches » de façon rigoureuse et scientifique, dans une gamme aussi étendue que possible d'installations agricoles, afin d'évaluer son efficacité et sa faisabilité.

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