Policy Brief. A global review of the impact of forest property rights interventions on poverty

Policies and programs to strengthen forest tenure and property rights have been implemented in countries around the world over the past 25 years. However, systematic knowledge of their effects on poverty remains lacking. We address this gap through a comprehensive review of evidence on these interventions impacts on income, assets, and other indicators of poverty. On balance, our results suggest that investments in strengthening forest property rights for local communities can help boost livelihoods and alleviate poverty. We also find tentative evidence that devolution of rights beyond access or management to the more extensive rights of exclusion and alienation is more effective. Our findings underscore the importance careful design of forest-related property rights policies so they do not impose costly responsibilities on the poor, women, and those heavily reliant on forest resources for their livelihoods.

Recommended Citation: Miller et al. Policy Brief: A global review of the impact of forest property rights interventions on poverty. FLARE/Keough School Policy Brief Series. Notre Dame, IN: Keough School of Global Affairs, 2024. https://doi.org/10.7274/26781652