Urban-Based Domestic Land Investors and Rural Tree Cover Gain in Eastern Africa

Many developing governments state in their climate change mitigation pledges that they intend to use funding to benefit rural citizens; however, shifts in land markets may result in reduced land ownership by rural residents. Linkages between land markets and gains in planted tree cover need to be studied to mitigate such unintended policy consequences, which may in turn lead to migration and food insecurity. Collaborating with researchers at Middlebury College, this project examines factors that lead to the regeneration of forests in developing regions in Eastern Africa that have been deforested by people. In particular, the research examines the extent to which forest regrowth arises from the purchases of rural property by urban landowners, who may use the properties to cultivate tree crops. Using a combination of satellite imagery and ethnographic methods, researchers can discern the extent to which forest regrowth is attributable to these rural-to-urban land sales. An ethnographic analysis of landowner priorities further elucidates the determinants of tree cover gain across multiple spatial and temporal scales. This research contributes to the management and stewardship of forests in regions that are the focus of conservation efforts.