The article by Fairhead and Leach examines the conventional narrative of deforestation in the region of Kissidougou in Guinea and offers another perspective. It first describes the situation in the area; it is mostly savannah with pockets of forest surrounding villages, which scientists and policy makers take as evidence that originally the whole area was forested and was converted into savannah over time by the practices of the local population. Deforestation is a big concern which needs to be addressed by the government. Several common hypotheses are listed, such as an increase in trade in postcolonial times, and a lack of political stability and population growth
After laying out the current position the article then gives the counternarrative. It argues that contrary to the previous theory the landscape of the area has actually experienced forest growth, not loss; thus the entire basis for theories of deforestation in this area is incorrect. It goes on to give a more accurate understanding of the history. The authors used aerial footage of the area from 1952-3, as well as maps and accounts from the French occupation to show that the forested areas have remained relatively stable. Colonialist accounts actually describe a sparser landscape. Oral accounts from villagers in 38 villages are also used to explain that original settlers to the area deliberately planted trees to grow forested areas around their villages. Many cultural practices are now shown in a different light
The article is significant for several reasons. Specifically it has implications for the area of Kissidougou by challenging the necessity of policies imposed on the population. More broadly it challenges the relationship between society and the environment, the assumptions that land use is always degrading, and the inherent assumptions that local knowledge is inferior to state and “professional” knowledge. It gives us alternative ways of thinking about environmental relations.
- Fairhead, James and Melissa Leach. “False Forest History, Complicit Social Analysis: Rethinking Some West African Environmental Narratives” From World Development vol. 23, no. 6 (1995):1023-1035.