This book presents research articles and essays which analyze the consequences of decentralization on forest conditions and livelihoods in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. Authors from the East African collaborative research centers of the International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) Research Program demonstrate that the institutional changes resulting from decentralization create costs for those who need to re-institutionalize and re-organize the management of forest and land resources. This requires investment into information, communication, education and into the re-building of social capital. Cases in which collective action has worked and contributed to improving livelihoods and forest conditions can be exemplary, while failures can be equally useful for learning about East Africa and beyond.

Contents: Franz W. Gatzweiler/Emily Obonyo: Introduction. Decentralization, Institutional Change and Learning for Sustainable Forest Management in Eastern Africa - Abwoli Y. Banana/Paul. O. Ongugo/William S. Gombya-Ssembajjwe/Tadesse W. Gole/Feyera Senbeta/Justine Namaalwa/Emmanuel Luoga/Joseph Bahati/L. A. Mbwambo/Valerie Graw/Franz W. Gatzweiler: Forest Governance Reforms in Eastern Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Institutional, Livelihood and Forest Sustainability Outcomes - Emmanuel Luoga/George C. Kajembe: The Role of Institutions for Sustainable Livelihoods in Eastern Africa Forest Landscapes: Experience from Tanzania - Daniel Waiswa/Stephen P. Prisley/William S. Gombya-Ssembajjwe/Abwoli Y. Banana/Joseph Bahati: Decentralized Forest Management in Uganda: Has it Impacted Forest Sustainability? - George M. Okwaro: Institutions, Livelihoods and Forest Dynamics: The Case of Ramogi and Mau Forests in Kenya - Paul O. Ongugo/Titus E. Mbuvi/Emily Obonyo/Jephin Mogoi/Joseph O. Maua/Charles K. Koech/Roxventa A. Othim: Emerging Roles of Community Forest Associations in Kenya: The Cases of Arabuko - Sokoke Forest Adjacent Dwellers Association (Asfada) and Meru Forest Enviromental and Protection Community Association (Mefecap) - Abwoli Y. Banana/Mukadasi Buyinza/Krister Andersson/Esther Mwangi: Resource, Recourse and Decisions: Incentive Structures for decentralized Forest Governance in Uganda - Kimani Samuel Munyua: Conflicting Policies: Institutional Approaches towards Decentralization and Governance of Common Pool Resources in Kenya - Andnet Deresse/Feyera Senbeta/Tadesse Woldemariam Gole: Local Institutions and their Influence on Forest Resource Management in Southwest Ethiopia: The Case of Yayu Forest - Purity Adhiambo Osumba: Pay Back Anticipation: A driving Force in Communities' Participation in Forest Management - Roxventa A. Ongugo/Purity A. Osumba/Pasiens M. Tuzo: Traditional Forest Use and Institutional Change: Case Study of Loita Community Forest, Narok South District, Kenya - Melaku Merga Chemeda/Tadesse Woldemariam Gole: Demographic and socio-economic Correlates of Participatory Forest Management and Local People's Perception: The Case of Chilimo Forest in Ethiopia - Emily Obonyo/Jephine A. Mogoi: Towards Adaptation: From Indigenous Management Systems to Decentralized Forest Governance - Namaalwa Justine/Abwoli Y. Banana/William Gombya-Ssembajjwe: Property Right Regimes and Sustainable Forest Management: Lessons from fourteen Years of Monitoring of Forest Resources in Uganda - Emmanuel Luoga/Paul Ongugo/George Kajembe/D.S.A. Silayo/Njabha Lyantura: Linking Mount Kilimanjaro Forest Resources to Institutional, Socio-Political and Physical Factors: A Cross-Border Comparative Analysis - Joseph B. Bahati/Abwoli Y. Banana/William Gombya-Ssembajjwe: Multi-Stakeholder Governance in Land and Forestry in Uganda: Conflict Mitigation, Scale, Knowledge and Collective Action - Concepta Mukasa/Alice Tibazalika/Harriet N. Muloki/David Obot/William Gombya-Ssembajjwe: Contribution of Forestry to Household Income and District Revenue in Uganda.