Abstract

FALCAO, Mário; SUMAILA, Rashid; GRUNDY, Isla  and  GELDENHUYS, Coert. The Impact of Policy on Resource Use in Mozambique: A Case Study of Savane . Silva Lus. [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.1, pp.89-102. ISSN 0870-6352.

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.

Keywords : game theory; forest management regimes; NTFPs; Mozambique; local communities.

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