Durrant, E., Howson, P., Sallu, S.M. orcid.org/0000-0002-1471-2485 et al. (8 more authors) (2025) Understanding farmers’ attitudes and aspirations for tree-cover restoration in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Forest Policy and Economics, 172. 103452. ISSN 1389-9341
Abstract
Restoring tree cover to meet international commitments requires context-sensitive approaches, such as agroforestry in rural landscapes, that address local concerns and motivations. This study investigates farmers' attitudes and aspirations for tree-cover restoration in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, using a novel combination of participatory future farm scenarios and sentiment analysis. Unlike traditional applications of sentiment analysis on large online datasets, we demonstrate its utility in understanding attitudes in rural contexts, complementing participatory engagement efforts. We explore variables influencing smallholders' aspirations for their future farms, with a focus on agroforestry systems, and examine the impact of gender and wellbeing on perceptions and attitudes towards agroforestry and existing natural forests in the landscape. Our findings indicate positive attitudes towards agroforestry, particularly when it provides direct, tangible benefits. However, forests were viewed negatively due to concerns about resource access and human-wildlife interactions. Men associated tree planting with income opportunities, while women favoured scattered trees for subsistence needs. These results underscore the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive restoration practices that align with local preferences. By tailoring restoration strategies to specific local aspirations, concerns and motivations, we can enhance the effectiveness, equity, and acceptance of tree-cover restoration initiatives.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Agroforestry; Forest restoration; Landscape; Participatory scenarios; Sentiment analysis; Attitudes |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BBSRC (Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council) BB/S014586/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Feb 2025 14:27 |
Last Modified: | 07 Mar 2025 08:36 |
Published Version: | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103452 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:223378 |
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