The effectiveness of Joint Forest Management approach on the sustainable livelihood of rural people: A case study from Kyrgyzstan

Zhyldyz TOKTOROVA

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach in Kyrgyzstan has been officially operated for over a decade, setting a stage for its current status investigation. This thesis work aims to assess the effectiveness of JFM on sustainable livelihoods generation of local people and identify the changes in the forest coverage occurred due to JFM implementation in the period from 2007 to 2017 through the case study of Arstanbap-Ata Forest Management Division of Arslanbob Forest, Kyrgyzstan. The study has been conducted on a sample group of 80 households based on the recall analysis method. The research found out that, on an average, JFM has increased the livelihood assets for almost half (44,03%) of the respondents, with the highest improvement reported in financial (72,81%) and physical (48,90%) assets, but in the case of social, natural, and human capitals, the enhancement has not been as high as the other two ones. The investigation has also revealed that unfortunately, the forest coverage of Arstanbap-Ata Forest Management Division has been diminishing in the last ten years by putting its sustainability at stake in the long-run period. It is recommended that the Forest Agency should address the problem of weak incentives within the Forest Management Division by revising its current administrative and financing conditions, set clear-cut separation of duties between stakeholders, ensure equal treatment in the competition process and fair allocation of forest plots, and put a greater emphasis on outreach and forest conservation awareness.

Abstract:

The Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach in Kyrgyzstan has been officially operated for over a decade, setting a stage for its current status investigation. This thesis work aims to assess the effectiveness of JFM on sustainable livelihoods generation of local people and identify the changes in the forest coverage occurred due to JFM implementation in the period from 2007 to 2017 through the case study of Arstanbap-Ata Forest Management Division of Arslanbob Forest, Kyrgyzstan. The study has been conducted on a sample group of 80 households based on the recall analysis method. The research found out that, on an average, JFM has increased the livelihood assets for almost half (44,03%) of the respondents, with the highest improvement reported in financial (72,81%) and physical (48,90%) assets, but in the case of social, natural, and human capitals, the enhancement has not been as high as the other two ones. The investigation has also revealed that unfortunately, the forest coverage of Arstanbap-Ata Forest Management Division has been diminishing in the last ten years by putting its sustainability at stake in the long-run period. It is recommended that the Forest Agency should address the problem of weak incentives within the Forest Management Division by revising its current administrative and financing conditions, set clear-cut separation of duties between stakeholders, ensure equal treatment in the competition process and fair allocation of forest plots, and put a greater emphasis on outreach and forest conservation awareness.

Keywords

Joint Forest Management, Sustainable Livelihoods, Livelihood Assets

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 31. 5. 2019

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. RNDr. Pavel Nováček, CSc.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Science

Master programme / field:
Geography / International Development Studies