Responsibilization in governance of non-industrial private forestry: Experiences from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania

Dismas L. Mwaseba, Antti Erkkilä, Esbern Friis-Hansen, Aristarik H. Maro and John D. Maziku

Forest Policy and Economics, 2020, vol. 118, issue C

Abstract: This article draws from the conceptual framework of techno-bureaucratic and developmentalist doxas to understand the social practice of responsibilization in governance of non-industrial private forestry (NIPF) in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. More specifically, attention is paid to responsibilization in the use of genetically improved tree seeds among small-scale tree growers. Data for the study were obtained using documentary review, participatory observation, focus group discussions and interviews with actors at district and village levels. Semi-structured interviews involved government and village officials, small-scale tree growers and other community members as well as NGO representatives. In addition, relevant policy, legislative and project documents and other grey literature were collected and reviewed for triangualation. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed with a particular focus on emerging themes and sub-themes as well as patterns. The article shows that greater control is exercised by NGOs in the process of governance aimed primarily at modernization of private forestry generally and NIPF in particular. Existing power relations among actors are shaped and legitimized through the promotion of interventions that accord greater importance to professional and expert knowledge than to local knowledge. In effect, this has created dependence among small-scale tree growers and a greater reliance on expert technical knowledge, which is reflected in greater importance being given to training by outside experts at the expense of local initiatives. High cost of genetically improved tree seeds stands in the way of accomplishment of responsibilization in governance of NIPF and, more specifically, among small-scale tree growers.

Keywords: Responsibilization; Doxa; Non-industrial private forestry; Forest governance; Tanzania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934119302072
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:forpol:v:118:y:2020:i:c:s1389934119302072

DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102243

Access Statistics for this article

Forest Policy and Economics is currently edited by M. Krott

More articles in Forest Policy and Economics from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().