Dryland Landscapes: Forest Management, Gender and Social Diversity in Asia and Africa

Drylands cover 40 % of the earth’s surface and provide the basis for the livelihoods of 2 billion people, many of whom belong to the poorest of the world. Dryland forests provide these people with woods, fruits, fibre and pasture. Drylands are among the poorest and most problem-ridden areas of the world. Therefore a different approach to drylands and dryland forest management is needed. The chapter develops a framework for analysing dryland forest management departing from a forestry approach to a landscape approach putting the diversity and interconnectedness of different forest and non-forest resources in the centre of analysis. It departs from the assumption that dryland ecosystems are not in equilibrium and extremely dynamic. Therefore, management should focus on forest ecosystems as providing a large diversity of resources niches in time and space for diverse groups of users, ranging from pastoralists to smallholders, men and women, indigenous peoples and caste. Rules of access and resource tenure should take account of this diversity.