NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE - ETH - North-South Centre North-South ...

The importance of forest fragments
in local livelihood systems
On the east coast of Madagascar, forests are increasingly
being pushed back as a result of the shifting cultivation pursued
by the majority of the local land users. Intact forests
are reduced by these burning systems and what remains
are forest fragments in a mosaic landscape. Our research
project focuses on ways to improve the management
of forest fragments with regards to biodiversity and local
livelihood strategies. At the centre stands the relationship
between human beings and forest fragments, and the
management of the forest fragments in this patchwork
landscape. The main outputs should be:
to gain a holistic knowledge about the importance of
forest fragments in livelihood systems;
to describe distribution, texture and diversity of forest
fragments;
to identify reasons for forest degradation and future
driving forces;
to find incentives and new approaches for the management
of forest fragments in order to enhance biodiversity
and reduce poverty.
The information should allow us to analyse the extent to
which a sustainable use of forest fragments is compatible
with the local livelihood systems. The research study will integrate
ecological and socio-economic aspects.
Based on a spatial analysis, we distinguished two principal
classes of fragmentation: “Low fragmented forest” and
“fragmented forest”. Subsequently, floristic inventories
were carried out in each class with the goal of determining
the potential of the forests. The results showed the impact
that the local needs and extraction have on the existing tree
diameter distribution, plant diversity and regeneration.
The first results of the socio-economic study show that the
perception of forest fragments and their importance for the
local population changes with increasing proximity to the
forest resources. Not only became forest fragments more
important to satisfy the daily needs of the people, but they
also had an increasing potential to cause conflicts between
villagers.
Most of the achievements of our studies have been communicated
to the local community forestry project. Passing on
this knowledge contributes to the improvement of the forest
management, as it considers the relationship between local
livelihood systems and the ecosystem of forest fragments.
Research fellows
Zora Lea Urech, ETH Zurich, Switzerland;
Mihajamanana Fetra Rabenilalana, ESSA, Madagascar
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Supervisors
Jaboury Ghazoul, Jean-Pierre Sorg and Hans-Rudolf Felber,
ETH Zurich, Switzerland;
Gabrielle Rajoelison, ESSA, Madagascar
Collaborators
Jean-Laurent Pfund, CIFOR, Indonesia;
Etienne Andriamapandry, AIM, Madagascar
Duration
September 2008 – July 2011
Capacity development
Research fellowships
A woman cutting leaves from
Pandanus spp. for weaving, Madagascar