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<p>Decentralized forest management is a cornerstone of modern conservation, yet its outcomes are deeply embedded in the political ecology of local resource governance. This study provides an integrated assessment of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in the Shisho-Ende District of southwestern Ethiopia, a critical biodiversity hotspot. Synthesizing Social-Ecological Systems (SES) theory with a power-sensitive political ecology lens, we employed a mixed-methods, comparative design analyzing 60 forest plots and 85 household surveys. Our findings reveal that PFM fosters significant ecological synergies: PFM forests exhibit higher woody species richness (39 vs. 33 species), greater diversity (Shannon Index: 3.52 vs. 3.39), and superior regeneration compared to adjacent non-PFM areas. Concurrently, PFM delivers tangible livelihood improvements, with 90.9% of participants reporting increased income (averaging 6,136 ETB (~$110 USD) annually). However, these successes create distinct social trade-offs. The establishment of exclusive use rights has led to a “tragedy of the excluded,” with 83.3% of non-participating community members reporting negative impacts and increased resource-use conflicts. Qualitative data highlight critical institutional barriers, most notably “elite capture,” identified by 80% of non-members (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and a “knowledge monopoly” among literate leaders. We conclude that while PFM generates ecological and economic synergies for participants, its long-term viability is threatened by a “social-ecological trap”. To achieve just outcomes, policy must move beyond simple devolution to create inclusive governance frameworks that actively mediate power asymmetries and address the structural contradictions of “tenure dualism.”</p>

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Synergies and Trade-offs: The Ecological and Socio-Economic Outcomes of Participatory Forest Management in Southwestern Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Melesse Maryo,
  • Tadios Asrat

摘要

Decentralized forest management is a cornerstone of modern conservation, yet its outcomes are deeply embedded in the political ecology of local resource governance. This study provides an integrated assessment of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in the Shisho-Ende District of southwestern Ethiopia, a critical biodiversity hotspot. Synthesizing Social-Ecological Systems (SES) theory with a power-sensitive political ecology lens, we employed a mixed-methods, comparative design analyzing 60 forest plots and 85 household surveys. Our findings reveal that PFM fosters significant ecological synergies: PFM forests exhibit higher woody species richness (39 vs. 33 species), greater diversity (Shannon Index: 3.52 vs. 3.39), and superior regeneration compared to adjacent non-PFM areas. Concurrently, PFM delivers tangible livelihood improvements, with 90.9% of participants reporting increased income (averaging 6,136 ETB (~$110 USD) annually). However, these successes create distinct social trade-offs. The establishment of exclusive use rights has led to a “tragedy of the excluded,” with 83.3% of non-participating community members reporting negative impacts and increased resource-use conflicts. Qualitative data highlight critical institutional barriers, most notably “elite capture,” identified by 80% of non-members (p < 0.001), and a “knowledge monopoly” among literate leaders. We conclude that while PFM generates ecological and economic synergies for participants, its long-term viability is threatened by a “social-ecological trap”. To achieve just outcomes, policy must move beyond simple devolution to create inclusive governance frameworks that actively mediate power asymmetries and address the structural contradictions of “tenure dualism.”