Sammendrag
The main objective of the thesis is to explore how the assumptions of the dominating deforestation and conservation discourses fit in with local level realities in the Madagascar highlands. At a general level the thesis consider how constructivist approaches can contribute to the study of environmental degradation and bio-physical change. The thesis consists of six parts: one synthesis and five papers. Four of the papers are published or accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and the fifth paper has been accepted as a book chapter for publication in an edited volume. The thesis draws on the recent developments within human geography and political ecology. The epistemological framework for the dissertation is developed on the grounds of critical realism and pragmatism. A weak social constructive perspective on deforestation in Madagascar is applied. This implies that the role of narratives, discourses and representations is regarded as important to environmental policy, but without neglecting the existence of bio-physical changes taking place on the ground. These issues are discussed in the light of the Ambohitantely forest reserve. The reserve forms a case study thorough which an investigation of the main problems related to conservation of nature and local development is regarded. A comparison with a case from western Madagascar is also provided. An iterative approach based on various qualitative methods such as semi-directed interviews, in-depth interviews, group interviews, and triangulation of data based on repeated questioning of informants, was used to gather information in Ambohitantely. The thesis emphasizes that the dominating discourse of a human-induced deforestation of the Madagascar highlands, and the conservation policies and environmental legislation built on this discourse, needs to be modified. More emphasis should be put on the combination of human impacts and non-linear natural processes. Further, the notion that poverty leads to environmental degradation, which is a premise in the new integrated conservation and development discourse, is not supported by this study. At Ambohitantely the biggest threat to the forest is made up of the relatively rich cattle owners, the resource use of the poorest in the community cannot be considered to affect the sustainability of the forest reserve. A deeper analysis of local socio-cultural relations and the wider political-economy is thus essential for devising sustainable conservation strategies. The role of cattle rearing is pivotal to many land-use decisions, and the implications of this activity need more attention in the management plans. The concept of ?local community? needs to be addressed more carefully and attention should be paid to social and ethnic diversity, access to power and ongoing conflicts in the local community. A focus on local institutions rather than ?community? should be stressed. The overall message of the thesis is that generalizations must be avoided and that more research grounded in local realities is needed before any specific conservation strategy is decided.
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