Biomass energy dependency and implications for forest conservation policies in Malawi
DOWNLOADMarch 30, 2022 - Robertson Khataza, Jabulani Nyengere
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Forest degradation and deforestation are twin challenges affecting biodiversity conservation in developing countries, including those located in the sub-Saharan Africa region (SSA). Increasing demand for forest resources or forest dependence is one of the major drivers of forest degradation (Hosonuna et al 2012; Minde 2001; Skole 2021). There is mixed research evidence regarding the relationship between the existence of conservation regions and incidences of poverty which potentially fuels forest dependence (Wunder 2001; Verde Selva et al 2019). For many low-income countries, forests provide numerous goods and services which serve as ‘intermediate’ inputs into a household production processes (Bandyopadhyay et al 2011). This strand of literature indicates that forest incomes play an important role in reducing household poverty and inequality but also serve as natural insurance or safety nets during calamities (Wunder 2001; Jumbe 2011; Bandyopadhyay et al 2011; Fonta and Ayuk, 2013). On the other hand, emerging evidence suggests that poverty levels are high in the periphery of forests and biodiversity conservation zones (Verde Selva et al 2019). As a result, poverty fuels excessive and illegal resource extraction from proximate nature conservation areas (Verde Selva et al 2019; MacKenzie and Hartter 2013). Thus, there is a need to pursue off-forestry poverty-reduction interventions to simultaneously achieve livelihood improvement and sustainable nature conservation.
