Assessing socio-economic factors and use of forest products: profiling land tenure dynamics in the Lunga Luswishi game management area in Mushindamo district, north-western province of Zambia

Abstract

This study aimed to explore opportunities available to communities in improving their land tenure rights and expand their value from natural resources through agri-culture and forest management. Conceptually, the study framed three key factors: a) understanding the key role of traditional leadership or chiefs in the allocation of re-sources; b) understanding the socio-economic situation, traditions and customs in the face of land reforms; and, c) “immigrant” communities as new owners of land in rural areas, e.g. mine and farm owners. In many respects, this study is a conversation with Karl Marx on global capitalism, commoditization of land and labour, and the associated local struggles over the social consequences of movement from use value to exchange value. The research findings confirmed the contribution of a wider body of knowledge on the role of land tenure and the socio-economic dynamics given the importance of forests in rural household income provision from sale of products and livelihood support through subsistence use of land and forest products. The results show that the use of forest products is associated with individual household socio-economic characteristics and underscores the need to critically understand attributes for better land tenure, forest management, policy and deci-sion-making processes. The policy implication is that Game Management Area (GMA) woodland is an important resource in supporting household needs of rural communities and that practices such as bee keeping and charcoal production cannot be stopped or excluded. Land tenure and forest policies should promote the integra-tion of agricultural utilization practices in land and forest management. The study also reveal that local ecological knowledge systems (cultural and religious belief systems) can significantly contribute to ecological recovery of forest ecosystems.