An analysis of social forestry through the lens of critical debates on participatory development: The Chiloe Model Forest.

摘要

Social Forestry (SF) integrates economic, environmental and especially social considerations into forest management through the participation of community stakeholder groups. Despite its vast potential and lofty aspirations, SF has achieved mixed results. The primary research question of this study is to determine what contributions analysis using critical themes on participatory development debates can make to social forestry theory? The critical themes are: micro-macro linkages, conceptualizing the 'community', power, 'ecologically noble savage' conceptions, and assumed cohesion and win-win solutions. The analysis is informed by the overarching theoretical framework of critical alternative development and a case study of the Chiloe Model Forest. The study better orients SF towards social justice and sustainability, reinvigorating the field to equip it to transcend difficult structures, institutions and organizations that perpetuate poverty and environmental degradation. The critical themes effectively challenge romantic tendencies and assumptions within SF, ultimately informing recommendations to better theorize SF.