Local conception of nature is based on the social representation of vital space of the people and in relationships with their life activities. Forest knowledge systems that derived, delineated ecological, social and economical indicators of the dynamics of ecological forest successions and the level of resources abundance. Local perception of nature and natural resources knowledge systems is a tool that guides the implementation of human activities in order to warrantee a threshold of forest and forest productivity at spatio-temporal scales. There is a need to revise the way scientific knowledge is generated, policy are formulated and sustainable forest management options are designed and implemented to address complex issues such like the integration of conservation and development outcomes in Africa, were the problems still need to be addressed. Adaptive co-management and innovations systems processes are opportunities and propose an avenue to improve the integration between science, policy and management practices.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the European Union, START/NORAD Fellowship programme and CIFOR who funded the PhD study, and the IUFRO for the presentation of this paper to the International Conference on Traditional Forest-related Knowledge and Sustainable Forest Management in Africa, 15-17 October 2008, Accra Ghana.
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