Abstract

A case study was carried out in Pindanganga to analyse the impact of alternative forest management regimes and sectorial and extra sectorial policies on the well being of stakeholders and conservation of the woodlands using a dynamic game theoretic model, MIOMBOSIM. This study shows that the cooperative management regime is potentially beneficial to local communities if properly implemented and can improve the condition of rural livelihoods and woodland resources. It also shows that regulated forest management regimes, incorporating social concerns or social and environmental concerns, are potentially more beneficial to the household sector that the open access regime, an increase by 100% on sales amount or 100% increase in marketing selling prices of NTFPs can lead to an increase in the per capital benefits of the household sector. An increase by 100% in off-miombo employment opportunities has an insignificant impact on resource use and conservation for the local communities. A combination of these two policy instruments under ceteris paribuscondition can improve the well being of the rural communities depending on the management regime, but can not lift the household benefits above the poverty line of one US$ per day per person.

Key words: Game theory, forest management regimes, efficiency, non-timber forest products.