How to write a research proposal in environmental studies

(An example of a research proposal)

ECOLOGY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT, THROUGH DECENTRALIZATION. COMPARATIVE STUDY: LEKE AND NYONG DIVISIONS

Summary:

            In order to improve the livelihood of the local people, to sustainably manage the forest and to better, distribute its benefits, the government of Cameroon has opted among other things, for the recipe of community forest through decentralization.

            This concept is gradually undergoing evolution as the different stakeholders acquaint themselves with the new concept. The rigid forest management system of the past dominated by the state and excluding local populations from decisions concerning management and its implementation is giving way to a negotiating decentralized system. Activities in the forest sector which previously focused on timber exploitation and income generation, now takes into consideration products and  services, providing economic opportunities for communities, individuals and seeking to  contribute to poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation. The analytic technical approach earlier applied is gradually moving towards a participatory management and trying to use an integrated multidisciplinary approach involving farmers, local communities, NGOs, private sector operators, government technical services and political leaders. Production and management goals are being diversified to ensure development and sustainability.

INTRODUCTION

The sustainable management of community forest will however depend on, the establishment of preconditions as poverty reduction, involvement of the various stakeholders at the local, national, regional and international levels. This requires the proper implementation of the simple management plan, the accountability of the finance community and the total participation of the location population. The high illiteracy and poverty level of the local population has made it possible for this concept to be trapped between elites NGOs and timber exploiting companies with local population acting as mere spectators. This phenomenon which seems to be managed by these category of people has led to the subject matter of this study, which seeks to find out if the population is actively involved in the management process and also if the benefits obtained from the forest resources are fully utilized for the economical and socio-economic benefits of the local population.

PROBLEM

            The lack of technical know-how and poor financial means of the local population has opened way to sponsors like elites, timber exploiting companies and NGOs to take over the activities of processing documents and acquiring community forest on behalf of the local communities. Hence the management of the forest is usually determined by the sponsors and benefits from the forest resources are not all directed towards ecological and socio-economic projects in the communities concerned.

OBJECTIVES

Principal Objective

            Contribute to the sustainable management of community forest through decentralization.

Specific Objectives

            To evaluate:

-          the implementation of the simple management plan

-          the participatory level of the local population  

-          the exploitable timber species

-          exploitation processes

-          find out if the members of the management community are based in town or in the village.

-          accountability of the finance community.

STUDY SITE

MATERIAL

METHODOLOGY

MARP/PRA (Méthodes active des recherché et de planification/ Participatory Rural Appraisal

METHOD

-          Interview

-          Informal conversation

-          File study

-          Direct observation

-          Survey

-          Transacts

AWAITED RESULTS

-          Determined how effective a simple management plan is implemented

-          To know the percentage of population that participates in the management process.

-          Bring out a data on timber exploitable species

-          Determined if the expliotatory processes are sustainable

-          Accountability of the finance community to the local population

-          Recommendations

IMPORTANCE OF PROJECT

            In general terms, this project will try to contribute in answering the questions plaguing the forest sector in Cameroon: Is Cameroon indeed moving towards sustainability and popular participation? If not how could this situation be improved?

SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

            This project will permit the application of sylvicultural process which are suitable for the regeneration and conservation for the forest.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC INTEREST

            This project will bring out benefits from forest resources in terms of standards of living, infrastructures and will open avenues for new projects.

ANALYSES OF DATA

            Data collected will be analyzed and results presented in forms of tables, graphics (histograms, pie charts).

STEPS TO FOLLOW

Phase I:

-          Elaboration of questionnaires

-          Visits to study sites and meeting resource persons

-          Identification of the different community forest

Phase 2:

-          Carry out an enquiry on the socio-economic evolution of the village

-          Data collection

-          Analyses of Data

REFERENCES

-Sustainable management of tropical forest in Central Africa. In search of excellence.

- The biometrics of Non-timber forest product resource assessment.

            A review of current Methodology

- Quel outils pour l’agriculture durable ?

          Analyse comparé de méthode participative