Trading Off Environmental Sustainability for Empowerment and Income: Woodlot Devolution in Northern Ethiopia

Reference Type:
Journal Article

Secondary Title:

Series Title:

Author(s):
Jagger, Pamela
Pender, John
Gebremedhin, Berhanu

Editor(s):

Series Author(s):

Year Published:
2005

Date Published:

Journal Name:
World Development

Volume Number:
33

Issue Number:
9

Start Page Number:
1491-510

End Page Number:

Edition:

Series Volume:

Publisher:

City of Publication:

ISSN/ISBN:

DOI:
10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.10.010

PMCID:

NIHMSID:

Reference ID:
4645

Miscellaneous:

Abstract:

This paper explores local empowerment, income generation opportunities, and environmental sustainability under varying scales of woodlot management in Ethiopia. We find that more devolved woodlot management empowers resource users, providing greater decision-making autonomy regarding harvesting and management. Our economic analysis indicates that there has been limited harvesting of high value products such as poles and fuelwood. Labor inputs declined, tree survival rates increased, and average annual net benefits improved as woodlot management was devolved, indicating improved efficiency with more localized management. Environmental sustainability was associated with less devolved woodlot management. This study highlights the trade-offs inherent in devolution reforms.

Keyword(s):
Population and Environment

URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.10.010

Notes:

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Citation:

Jagger, Pamela; Pender, John; & Gebremedhin, Berhanu. (2005). Trading Off Environmental Sustainability for Empowerment and Income: Woodlot Devolution in Northern Ethiopia. World Development, 33(9), 1491-510.