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Landscape-scale effects of farmers’ restoration decision making and investments in central Malawi: an agent-based modeling approach

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  • Djenontin, Ida N.S.
  • Ligmann-Zielinska, Arika
  • Zulu, Leo C.

Abstract

Local farmers’ engagement and contributions are increasingly underscored in resources restoration policy. Yet, empirical context-situated understanding of the environmental impacts of farmer-led restoration remains scant. Using six Agent-based Modeling (ABM) simulations that integrate multi-type data, we explore the potential spatial-temporal aggregate patterns and outcomes of local restoration actions in Central Malawi. Findings uncover a 10-year positive trend and spatially explicit potential restoration extent and intensity, greenness, and land productivity, all varying by farmer’s participation level. Landscape regreening is modestly promising with fluctuating greenness levels and low, slightly incremental, then steady land-productivity levels. Findings also show appropriate incentives, restoration knowledge, and inspiring local leadership as propitious management options for boosting local restoration. Bundling these enabling management and policy options would maximize local restoration. Findings suggest empowering bottom-up restoration efforts for enhanced environmental impacts. We also demonstrate the potential of using ABM to offer insights for spatially targeted, evidence-based restoration policy implementation and monitoring.

Suggested Citation

  • Djenontin, Ida N.S. & Ligmann-Zielinska, Arika & Zulu, Leo C., 2022. "Landscape-scale effects of farmers’ restoration decision making and investments in central Malawi: an agent-based modeling approach," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115672, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:115672
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ntihinyurwa, Pierre Damien & de Vries, Walter Timo, 2021. "Farmland fragmentation concourse: Analysis of scenarios and research gaps," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    2. Ida Nadia S. Djenontin & Leo C. Zulu & Arika Ligmann-Zielinska, 2020. "Improving Representation of Decision Rules in LUCC-ABM: An Example with an Elicitation of Farmers’ Decision Making for Landscape Restoration in Central Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-35, July.
    3. Jenny C. Aker & Kelsey Jack, 2021. "Harvesting the Rain: The Adoption of Environmental Technologies in the Sahel," NBER Working Papers 29518, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Leo Zulu, 2013. "Bringing People Back into Protected Forests in Developing Countries: Insights from Co-Management in Malawi," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(5), pages 1-27, May.
    5. Martin Brandt & Compton J. Tucker & Ankit Kariryaa & Kjeld Rasmussen & Christin Abel & Jennifer Small & Jerome Chave & Laura Vang Rasmussen & Pierre Hiernaux & Abdoul Aziz Diouf & Laurent Kergoat & Ol, 2020. "An unexpectedly large count of trees in the West African Sahara and Sahel," Nature, Nature, vol. 587(7832), pages 78-82, November.
    6. Djenontin, Ida N.S. & Zulu, Leo C., 2021. "The quest for context-relevant governance of agro-forest landscape restoration in Central Malawi: Insights from local processes," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR); greenness; participation; productivity; Space-time patterns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment

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