Smallholder farmers' perceptions of the natural and anthropogenic drivers of deforestation and forest degradation: a case study of Murehwa, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Forests are an integral part of social-ecological systems, which provide economic, cultural and ecosystem services. The natural and socio-economic drivers of deforestation and forest degradation are affecting the sustainability of social-ecological systems. Several measures have been put in place to manage forest ecosystems. Nonetheless, multiple and complex drivers of deforestation and forest degradation have compromised these measures. The study sought to establish smallholder farmers’ perceptions on the multiplicity and complexity of factors to which they attribute deforestation and forest degradation. This is important for the successful formulation of improved forest conservation and management frameworks. The study was carried out with smallholder farmers in three wards of Murehwa District in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe. Using ‘Q’ sort and factor analysis, we find that the smallholder farmers attribute deforestation and forest degradation to climate change, insects and diseases, unavoidable external events, a lack of alternative sources of fuel and the failure of existing institutional arrangements. Under such circumstances, forest governance and management efforts that focus solely on controlling human activities may not bring desired outcomes. Therefore, there is a need to take into account external factors when designing an effective contextual forest management strategy or framework.

Keywords:

• social-ecological systems
• drivers
• deforestation
• forest degradation
• forest governance
• forest management

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Data collection was supported through the DSCATT project which is funded by the Agropolis Fondation under the reference ID 1802–001 through the “Investissements d’avenir” programme (Labex Agro: ANR-10-LABX-0001-01), under the frame of I-SITE MUSE (ANR-16-IDEX-0006).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Agropolis Fondation [Grant Number ID 1802-001].

Notes on contributors

P. T. Mataruse

Prosper Tonderai Mataruse is a PhD candidate in the Department of Community and Social Development at the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are in institutional aspects of natural resource conservation, climate change impact, adaptation and mitigation and sustainable livelihoods.

K. Nyikahadzoi

Kefasi Nyikahadzoi is an associate professor based at the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Institute at the University of Zimbabwe. His research interests are in agricultural development, natural resources management and innovation systems.

A. Fallot

Abigail Fallot is a PhD holder and researcher at CIRAD (the French Centre of International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development), in the UMR-SENS (Knowledge, Environment and Societies) research unit of Montpellier, France. Her research interests are in pluri- and trans-disciplinary approaches for a shared understanding amongst scientists and stakeholders at the local level in the area of food diversity, soil fertility and public policy intervention.