Solomon Islands has relied on highly unsustainable industrial logging since the 1980s. While the development narrative around logging emphasizes its macro-economic importance, it structurally... Show moreSolomon Islands has relied on highly unsustainable industrial logging since the 1980s. While the development narrative around logging emphasizes its macro-economic importance, it structurally overlooks the impacts on local people’s lives. Based on 200 qualitative interviews conducted in 25 villages and 14 logging operations in Malaita Province between 2016 and 2019, this paper demonstrates that the impacts of logging on subsistence and social relations are systemic rather than incidental. By making use of interview quotes, the paper gives voice to rural Solomon Islanders. The results show that the logging industry fails to generate lasting local benefits, while unsustainable logging practices undermine subsistence livelihoods, especially fisheries. Logging triggers conflict that long outlasts the operations themselves, causes sexual exploitation, facilitates excessive alcohol use and reinforces gender disparities by structurally excluding women from decision-making and benefit-sharing. This paper calls for a stronger focus on the social impacts of logging in forestry science, policy and practice. Show less
Ploeg, J. van der; Sukulu, M.; Govan, H.; Minter, T.; Eriksson, H. 2020
This paper describes the efforts to establish a network of community-conserved areas in the municipality of San Mariano on Luzon, with the dual aim to protect the Philippine crocodile and to... Show moreThis paper describes the efforts to establish a network of community-conserved areas in the municipality of San Mariano on Luzon, with the dual aim to protect the Philippine crocodile and to improve inland fisheries. The necessary steps to establish a community-conserved area are summarized, and their sustainability assessed. The importance of local leadership and democratic decision-making processes in the design of community-based conservation measures is highlighted, and it is argued that implicit cultural values, such as hospitality and respect, are often a more important motivation for rural communities to protect aquatic resources than explicit concerns about food security and livelihoods. Show less
Ploeg, J. van der; Aquino, D.M.; Minter, T.; Weerd, M. van 2016
The legalisation of the customary land rights of rural communities is currently actively promoted as a strategy for conserving biodiversity. There is, however, little empirical information on the... Show moreThe legalisation of the customary land rights of rural communities is currently actively promoted as a strategy for conserving biodiversity. There is, however, little empirical information on the conservation outcomes of these tenure reforms. In this paper, we describe four conservation projects that specifically aimed to formalise land rights in the Philippines, a country widely seen as a model for the devolution of control over natural resources to rural communities. We demonstrate that these legalistic interventions are based on flawed assumptions, on: 1) the capacity of the state to enforce tenure; 2) the characteristics of customary land rights; and 3) the causal links between legal entitlements and sustainable natural resource management. As a result, these state-led tenure reforms actually aggravate tenure insecurity on the ground, and ultimately fail to improve natural resource management. Show less
Cureg, M.C.; Bagunu, A.M.; Weerd, M. van; Balbas, M.G.; Soler, D.; Ploeg, J. van der 2016
The Agta of the Philippines depend on extensive knowledge of their naturalenvironment for their livelihoods. However, little is known about the transmissionof this indigenous ecological knowledge.... Show moreThe Agta of the Philippines depend on extensive knowledge of their naturalenvironment for their livelihoods. However, little is known about the transmissionof this indigenous ecological knowledge. This paper examines the transmission ofknowledge on hunting, fishing and gathering among the Agta in San Mariano, IsabelaProvince. We used observation, interviewing and knowledge tests as methods ofinquiry. Our results show that knowledge transmission happens on-site, is genderspecificand that pathways of knowledge transmission differ per livelihood activity.Learning among the Agta takes place stepwise but less systematically than suggestedby earlier research on knowledge transmission among hunter-gatherers. We found thatobservation, imitation and individual experimentation are important modes of learningin all livelihood activities. Contemporary environmental and social change, particularlydeforestation and formal education, have far-reaching implications for knowledgetransmission and identity in Agta society. Show less