Participatory Exclusion in Community-Based Forest Management

Abstract

The inherent benefits of community participation are sometimes used by local power holders as a façade to perpetuate non-participation in the management and use of forest resources. Guided by the concept of participatory exclusion, the study assessed the perceptions of inhabitants around the Wa Community Forest Reserve (WCFR), concerning the categories of people that benefit from the forest and the factors influencing community participation in the management of the forest reserve. Data was collected from 200 households in three communities and analysed using mainly descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The study found that community participation in the forest reserve management is below average. Gender, age, and livelihood options of households were significant determinants of one's participation in forest reserve management. Lack of community cooperation and logistical challenges were impediments to the effective management of the forest reserve. Local authorities should therefore encourage women to co-manage the forest reserve with men and local authorities for its sustenance.