The Politics of Deforestation in Africa

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Why Deforestation Persists in Africa: Actors, Interests, and Interest Alignment

   • Nadia Rabesahala Horning

   Pages 1-41

3. Seeing Like a Farmer: Resource Politics at the Community Level

   • Nadia Rabesahala Horning

   Pages 43-88

4. Executive Branches and Trees: Environmental Politics at the National Level

   • Nadia Rabesahala Horning

   Pages 89-134

5. Across the Great Divide: Collaborative Forest Management

   • Nadia Rabesahala Horning

   Pages 135-163

6. Epilogue

   • Nadia Rabesahala Horning

   Pages 165-175

7. Back Matter

   Pages 177-183

   PDF

This book explores how environmental policies are made and enforced in Africa. Specifically, this project explains the gap between intent and impact of forest policies, focusing on three African societies facing persistent deforestation today: Madagascar, Tanzania, and Uganda. The central claim of the study is that deforestation persists because conservation policies and projects, which are largely underwritten by foreign donors, consistently ignore the fact that conservation is possible only under limited and specific conditions. To make the case, the author examines how decision-making power is negotiated and exercised where communities make environmental decisions daily (local level) and where environmental policies are negotiated and enacted (national level) across three distinct African political systems.

• how environmental policies are made and enforced in Africa
• local and national forces in enacting environmental policies
• decision-making processes within and across African systems
• limited and specific conditions for conservationism
• deforestation continuing despite efforts otherwise
• Africa
• Environment in Africa
• Madagascar
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Forest Policies in Africa
• African politics

“Professor Horning’s book is an invaluable contribution to the world’s knowledge about conservation. I found it truly enlightening and encourage all African leaders, conservationists, and international donors to read it in order to craft and implement more effective conservation policies.” (Fred Swaniker, Founder, African Leadership University, Mauritius & Rwanda)

“Horning’s argument that the simultaneous alignment of local, national and international actors’ interests makes forest conservation most likely is compelling. Her thesis is applicable to other areas of Africa and beyond the continent. Her work shows how Africans can utilize their own governance mechanisms to resolve environmental issues in Africa, as well as pose paradigms applicable to non-African contexts. This is the essence of the value of comparative political science work.” (Errol Henderson, Associate Professor, Penn State University, USA)

“Horning challenges the notion that there is a symbiotic relationship between farmers and executives/donors, yet she persuasively argues that it is at the nexus of this relationship that efficacious policy can be made. The book is a manual for policy-makers and an invaluable resource for students and scholars alike.” (Joshua Rubongoya, Professor, Roanoke College, USA)

• Department of Political Science, Middlebury College, Middlebury, USA

  Nadia Rabesahala Horning

Nadia Horning is Associate Professor, Director of African Studies, and Faculty Director of Social Entrepreneurship at Middlebury College, USA. 

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