Factors influencing farmers’ participation in forestry management programs: A case study from Haiti

Forêt des Pins Reserve, a state-owned natural forest in Haiti, has suffered severe degradation due to an ongoing influx of people seeking fertile agricultural land and off-farm employment opportunities. Participation by local communities in management has widely been considered as a means of sustaining protected areas. The purpose of this study is to examine the setting in which farmers are likely to participate in forest management in Forêt des Pins Reserve using factor analysis and multiple regression equations. Data from 243 farmers inside the Reserve were used in the empirical analysis. Results showed that the participatory management process of Forêt des Pins Reserve can be enhanced by providing information about benefits from the forests, increasing annual income, improving education, strengthening organizational memberships, and increase the involvement of women in the forest management process. Results also revealed that policies designed to improve technical assistance is essential to strengthen farmers’ participation in forestry program.