Empirical Linkages Between Devolved Tenure Systems and Forest Conditions: Literature Review

This literature review summarizes and comments on the empirical evidence related to the devolution of rights and responsibilities to forest resources and the attainment of forest management objectives. It is based on a detailed survey of studies that investigate the linkages between devolved forest tenure systems and changes in forest conditions. This review is expected to advance the interest of the USAID Land Tenure and Property Rights Division “to test the hypothesis that devolved forest rights and management slows or reverses forest degradation.”