The Impact of Policy on Resource Use in Mozambique: A Case Study of Savane

Mário Falcão*, Rashid Sumaila**¹, Isla Grundy**² and Coert Geldenhuys**³

* Assistant

Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, MOZAMBIQUE

** Associate Professor

¹Fisheries Centre. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CANADA

²Department of Primary Industries, 3685, Victoria, AUSTRALIA

³University of Stellenbosch, SOUTH AFRICA

 

Abstract. The study was carried out to analyse the impact of alternative management regimes and changes in sales quantities and prices of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) on the well-being of stakeholders, and on the conservation of the woodlands. A dynamic game theoretic model was developed and used to simulate human population and forest dynamics, harvesting costs, household consumption and prices of forest products. Data from field surveys were used for the simulations. Because stakeholders interests are often in conflict, the chosen modelling approach allows for an evaluation of management regimes. The results indicate that stakeholders and resource conservation social and economic well-being are improved through sound forest management practices. The analysis shows also that regulated forests management regimes in which both profits and social benefits are taken into account are potentially more beneficial to the household sector than the open access regime. Sensitivity analysis indicates that an increase of 100% in the quantity of forest products sold or in the selling prices of NTFPs, ceteris paribus, leads to an increase in per capita benefits of the local communities. However, this increase is not enough to lift the households within the communities above the poverty line of one dollar a day per capita.

Key words: game theory; forest management regimes; NTFPs; Mozambique; local communities

 

 

O Impacto da Política de Utilização dos Recursos de Moçambique. Estudo do Caso da Savana

Sumário. O presente trabalho visa analisar o impacto de regimes alternativos de maneio e de mudanças nas quantidades vendidas e preços de Produtos Florestais Não Madeireiros (PFNM) sobre o bem estar dos vários intervenientes e na conservação florestal. Modelos de teoria de jogos foram desenvolvidos e utilizados para simular a dinâmica das populações humana e florestal, custos de exploração, consumo familiar e preços de produtos florestais. Dados recolhidos no campo foram utilizados nas simulações. Este tipo de modelos permite uma avaliação dos regimes de maneio quando os interesses dos vários intervenientes são conflituosos. Os resultados indicaram que o bem estar social e económico dos intervenientes e a conservação dos recursos podem ser melhorados através de práticas de maneio florestal apropriadas. A análise mostrou também que regimes de maneio florestal centralizados onde benefícios económicos e sociais são tomados em conta são potencialmente mais benéficos para o sector familiar que o regime de acesso livre. A análise de sensibilidade mostra-nos que um aumento em 100% na quantidade vendida ou nos preços de PFNM, sob condição ceteris paribus, leva a um aumento nos benefícios per capita das comunidades locais. Contudo, este aumento não é suficiente para elevar os benefícios das famílias comunitárias acima da linha de pobreza de um Dólar Americano por dia per capita.

Palavras-chave: teoria de jogo; regimes da gestão florestal; NTFPs; Moçambique; comunidades locais

 

 

L'Impact de la Politique de l'Utilisation des Ressources au Mozambique: Étude d'un Cas de la Savane

Résumé. L'étude analyse l'impact des régimes alternatifs de gestion (coopératif, non coopératif), les changements de quantité de vente et le prix des produits forestiers non ligneux (NTFPs) sur le bien-être des dépositaires, et sur la conservation des régions boisées. Un modèle théorétique de jeu dynamique a été développé et employé pour simuler la dynamique de la population humaine et forestière, coûts de moisson, consommation des ménages et les prix des produits forestiers. Les données recueillies sur le terrain et la littérature ont permis l'élaboration des simulations. Puisque les intérêts des dépositaires sont souvent en conflit, l'approche modelante tient compte d'une évaluation des régimes de gestion. Les résultats indiquent que le bien-être social et économique des dépositaires et la conservation des ressources peuvent être améliorés par des procédures de gestion forestière saines.

Les résultats indiquent que le scénario coopératif de gestion est potentiellement salutaire aux communautés locales si correctement mis en application, améliorant de ce fait leur vie.

L'analyse prouve également que les régimes réglés de gestion de forêts dans lesquels les bénéfices économiques et sociaux sont pris en considération sont potentiellement plus salutaires au secteur du ménage qu'au régime de libre accès.

L'analyse de sensibilité indique qu'une augmentation de 100% de la quantité de produits forestiers vendus ou des prix de vente de NTFPs, paribu de ceteris, mènent à une augmentation des avantages per capita des communautés locales. Cependant, cette augmentation n'est pas suffisante pour élever les ménages au sein des communautés au-dessus de la ligne de pauvreté d'un dollar par jour et par habitant.

Mots clés: jeux dynamiques; régimes de gestion forestiers; NTFPS; Mozambique; communautés locales

 

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Full text only available in PDF format.

 

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Entregue para publicação em Julho de 2005

Aceite para publicação em Março de 2006