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Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and development investments in reducing deforestation and fires in Ankeniheny-Zahemena Corridor, Madagascar

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  • Karyn Tabor
  • Kelly W Jones
  • Jennifer Hewson
  • Andriambolantsoa Rasolohery
  • Andoniaina Rambeloson
  • Tokihenintsoa Andrianjohaninarivo
  • Celia A Harvey

Abstract

Forest conservation and REDD+ projects invest millions of dollars each year to reduce local communities’ dependence on forests and prevent forest loss and degradation. However, to date, there is limited evidence on whether these investments are effective at delivering conservation outcomes. We explored the relationships between 600+ small-scale conservation and development investments that occurred from 2007 to 2014 and conservation outcomes (deforestation rates and fire detections) within Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor in Madagascar using linear fixed effects panel regressions. We derived annual changes in forest cover and fires from satellite remote sensing. We found a statistically significant correlation between presence of any investment and reduced deforestation rates in 2010 and 2011 –years with accelerated deforestation elsewhere in the study area. This result indicated investments abated deforestation rates during times of political instability and lack of governance following a 2009 coup in Madagascar. We also found a statistically significant relationship between presence of any investment and reduced fire detections in the study area, suggesting investments had an impact on reducing burning of forest for agriculture. For both outcomes (i.e., deforestation rates and fire detections), we found that more dollars invested led to greater conservation outcomes (i.e. fewer fires or less deforestation), particularly when funding was sustained for one to two years. Our findings suggest that conservation and development investments can reduce deforestation and fire incidence, but also highlight the many challenges and complexities in assessing relationships between investments and conservation outcomes in a dynamic landscape and a volatile political context.

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  • Karyn Tabor & Kelly W Jones & Jennifer Hewson & Andriambolantsoa Rasolohery & Andoniaina Rambeloson & Tokihenintsoa Andrianjohaninarivo & Celia A Harvey, 2017. "Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation and development investments in reducing deforestation and fires in Ankeniheny-Zahemena Corridor, Madagascar," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0190119
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190119
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jennifer M. Alix-Garcia & Elizabeth N. Shapiro & Katharine R. E. Sims, 2012. "Forest Conservation and Slippage: Evidence from Mexico’s National Payments for Ecosystem Services Program," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 88(4), pages 613-638.
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    3. Bishnu Prasad Sharma & Subhrendu Pattanayak & Mani Nepal & Priya Shyamsundar & Bhaskar S. Karky, "undated". "REDD+ Impacts: Evidence from Nepal," Working papers 98, The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics.
    4. Rodrigo A. Arriagada, & Paul J. Ferraro & Erin O. Sills & Subhrendu K. Pattanayak & Silvia Cordero-Sancho, 2012. "Do Payments for Environmental Services Affect Forest Cover? A Farm-Level Evaluation from Costa Rica," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 88(2), pages 382-399.
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    1. Katie Devenish & Sébastien Desbureaux & Simon Willcock & Julia P. G. Jones, 2022. "On track to achieve no net loss of forest at Madagascar’s biggest mine," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(6), pages 498-508, June.
    2. Johanna Eklund & Julia P. G. Jones & Matti Räsänen & Jonas Geldmann & Ari-Pekka Jokinen & Adam Pellegrini & Domoina Rakotobe & O. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo & Tuuli Toivonen & Andrew Balmford, 2022. "Elevated fires during COVID-19 lockdown and the vulnerability of protected areas," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 603-609, July.
    3. Garcia, Alberto & Heilmayr, Robert, 2024. "Impact evaluation with nonrepeatable outcomes: The case of forest conservation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    4. Kambire Sie & Talnan Jean Honore Coulibaly & Naga Coulibaly & Issiaka Savane & Lanciné Droh Gone & Koffi Claude Alain Kouadio & Souleyman Cissé & Issa Camara & Gaoussou Sylla, 2021. "CONTRIBUTION OF SATELLITE IMAGERY TO THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLIMATE AND PYROLOGICAL VARIABLES OF BUSH FIRES IN THE SAVANNAH ZONE (case of the BOUNKANI REGION)," Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 5(1), pages 64-72, May.

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