Decentralised forest management for reducing deforestation and poverty in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

This systematic review by Samii and colleagues examines the evidence on the effects of decentralised forest management (DFM) interventions on deforestation and poverty outcomes. They assess if a relationship exists between effects on poverty and environmental outcomes. Additionally they explore how institutional and social conditions may moderate the effects of DFM programmes. The findings suggest positive, though modest, effects overall of DFM on deforestation. The evidence on poverty is more limited in quantity, but the authors conclude they are unable to rule out a negative effect of DFM on poverty. Institutional capacity may have been a barrier in some contexts, with evidence suggesting some DFM programmes were unable to carry out their mandates. Evidence also suggests democratically accountable DFM institutions may result in larger conservation.