Rwanda's natural forest is under pressure due to increasing rural population growth and subsistence farming. The Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture has therefore introduced agroforestry technology in forest-dependent communities to minimize the pressures on the forests and improve local people's livelihoods. This new technology has, however, not seen massive adoption in the country. This study examined the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of the agroforestry technology introduced particularly in Nyamagabe District and the challenges facing its adoption. Results showed that the agroforestry practices are contributing to an increase in income of agroforestry adopters compared to non-agroforestry adopters, and are improving soil fertility, reducing deforestation, and conserving soil and water in the district. However, results showed that, due to lack of skills and technical know-how, capital and quality seeds, some farmers are declining to adopt the new agroforestry practices. The respondents perceived that by providing subsidies to farmers, regular training, and informal education, establishing tree nurseries to improve the production of quality seeds, and also involving farmers in decision-making will increase agroforestry adoption. The government and other stakeholders should consider the views expressed by the farmers and take the necessary steps to address these challenges facing agroforestry technology adoption.

In this study, we primarily assess the relationship between social safeguards and the living standards of local communities in different ecological zones of Ghana, relying on data from the seventh round of the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS 7) and publicly available policy documents from the Ghana Statistical Service and the Forestry Commission of Ghana, respectively. This research aims to assist policymakers and stakeholders to make informed and appropriate decisions when developing social safeguards for emission reduction projects. The GLSS 7 covers 14,009 households, comprising 59,864 individuals in 892 enumeration areas or communities across the 10 regions of Ghana, now divided into 16. The data were collected using a stratified random sampling technique. Principal component analysis was employed to develop a living condition index, after which we generated a second construct based on the number of factors affecting living conditions. The results showed that access to sharecropping, literacy, extension services, financial institutions, a mobile phone network, and markets have significant positive relationships with the living conditions of local communities in Ghana. In addition, 78% of the social safeguards described in Ghana’s REDD+ strategy, Forest and Wildlife Policy, Benefits Sharing Mechanism, and Forest Plantation Development Strategy are aligned with the determinants of local communities’ living conditions. The findings suggest a need to enforce the Benefit Sharing Mechanism, better forest governance, and tenancy reforms in order to prevent the overexploitation of landowners and avoid elite capture. Furthermore, farmers must be linked to financial institutions in order to obtain credits. Additionally, we must seek to provide local communities with better access to markets and mobile phone networks in a way that allows them to carry out their livelihood activities effectively and efficiently. These measures help to reduce the risk of REDD+ actions and ensure sustainability.

The government of Laos has made significant efforts to halt deforestation and promote forest conservation in the Northern Uplands of Laos. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of the initiatives and factors that influence youth involvement in forest resource conservation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sustainable forest management practices and factors affecting youth behaviors related to forest conservation. Methodologically, our study was conducted in three districts, covering 15 villages, with 330 youths who were selected by systematic sampling to participate in structured interviews, statistically using multiple regressions to identify factors influencing sustainable forest management behaviors. The results indicated that conservation knowledge and recognition are associated with demographic and socioeconomic factors, especially education. Factors related to forest conservation recognition included the amount of information available, gender, monthly income, land ownership, and distance from the forest to home. Most households rely on forest products for their livelihoods. It is concluded that higher levels of education provide people with more job opportunities, which improves their job status and quality of life. Community members who received relevant information were more forward-thinking in their forest management behaviors and willing to contribute to related activities. The empirical evidence indicated that providing essential information to young people can help improve sustainable forest management behaviors.

Forest loss has significantly affected the ecology and economies of rural communities. In response, forest landscape restoration (FLR) has attracted scientific and political attention in recent decades. However, insufficient context-specific empirical evidence exists on the interplay between rural livelihoods and participation in FLR, especially in rural Ghana. To address the lacuna, we used the socio-ecological co-evolution model and the sustainable livelihood framework analytical lenses to investigate the relationship between livelihood activities and community participation in FLR, and the effects of FLR on local livelihoods in the Offinso Forest District of Ghana. Data for the study were obtained using 145 structured household surveys and 10 Key Informant Interviews. Our analyses revealed that rural people in the Offinso Forest District of Ghana participate more in agroforestry (modified taungya system) than in other FLR activities. Additionally, participation is significantly associated with age and education level. Younger adults (18–35 years old) and/or well-educated individuals tend to engage less in FLR activities than their counterparts. Moreover, individuals who collect fuelwood, collect fodder/keep livestock, hunt, and produce charcoal participate more in FLR activities. Surprisingly, individuals whose livelihoods are not directly linked to the forest, such as those involved in trading, palm oil processing, corn milling, beekeeping, and fashion, participate more in FLR activities. Finally, FLR activities significantly enhanced the natural capital of individuals, followed by social capital, and then financial capital, reiterating the multifaceted benefits of FLR when well-executed. Future research should investigate the institutional factors that shape FLR participation and its impact on livelihoods.