Reconciling policy instruments with drivers of deforestation and forest degradation: cross-scale analysis of stakeholder perceptions in tropical countries

Abstract

Cross-scale studies combining information on policy instruments and on drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are key to design and implement effective forest protection measures. We investigated the scale and country dependency of stakeholder perceptions about future threats to tropical forests (e.g. agriculture, logging, woodfuel) and preferred policy instruments (e.g. reforestation, protected areas, combat illegal logging), by interviewing 224 representatives of forest-related institutions. We conducted analysis of variance and principal component analysis for eighteen variables across three countries (Zambia, Ecuador and the Philippines) and four spatial levels (from international to local). We found that the overall alertness about commercial drivers and the confidence in policy instruments are significantly lower at subnational levels and also in Zambia. Stakeholder expectations about the most important drivers and the most effective policies in the coming decade follow regional narratives, suggesting that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions in international forest policy. However, we found an unexpected consensus across scales, indicating potential for collaboration between institutions operating at different geographical levels. Overall, agriculture remains the driver with the highest expected influence (43%), while a strong favoritism for reforestation and forest restoration (38%) suggests a paradigm shift from protected areas to a stronger focus on integrative approaches.

Structured Equations to Assess the Socioeconomic and Business Factors Influencing the Financial Sustainability of Traditional Amazonian Chakra in the Ecuadorian Amazon

“…Promoting the development of business management could incentivize companies to adopt socially responsible practices, such as fair trade and investment in local communities. To achieve this goal, more effective tax incentives or regulations could be implemented [97] that recognize and reward cooperative businesses, demonstrating a significant commitment to business factors geared toward promoting good practices within the Amazonian Chakra system and, consequently, their involvement in special markets [97].…”

Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador

“…This reserve has been widely studied as it is recognized as a megadiverse area due to its biological richness [1,64] and, additionally, for the multiple environmental services it provides as a carbon sink [34,65]. However, despite its great importance for biological conservation and in the mitigation of the effects of climate change [66], the SBR is threatened due to the alteration of its habitat caused by high rates of deforestation, changes in the use of the land [67][68][69][70][71], and even illegal mining [72,73]. In the SBR, deforestation is particularly associated with wood carving for the establishment of agricultural crops and intensive livestock [34,74,75].…”

Anthropogenic modifications: impacts and conservation strategies

“…The pre and post-intervention analysis showed that crescents effectively adapt traditional land management systems to increase agricultural production in arid ecosystems and are easily replicable systems in other contexts 12 . Brandolini et al illustrate a multidisciplinary approach to demonstrate how pre-industrial agricultural elements can mitigate soil erosion risk in response to current environmental conditions 13 , while Ferrer Velasco et al analyse the opinions of forest stakeholders on the policies implemented to fight deforestation 14 . Finally, Österblom et al focus on the biosphere, highlighting the need to implement sustainable changes in company policies relating to fish products 15 .…”