Knowledge on deforestation and forest degradation (DFD) in managed forest is widely available. However, the way local people perceive DFD and its drivers are not well understood. This study aimed at assessing local perception of vegetation dynamics and factors driving DFD in a community-managed forest. Data were collected by means of interviews conducted with 136 respondents from 5 communities. Non-parametric tests were used to analyze the data. The results show that 67% of respondents perceived DFD to be occurring in the forest. The perception of the level of forest degradation among the age groups in the communities was significantly related. The tree species cited as declining were those used for fuelwood and food as well as (Sterculia setigera Delile and Parkia biglobosa Jacq. R. Br. ex G. Don) and species of high timber value (Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir and Cordyla pinnata Lepr. ex A. Rich). An overlapping was found between local estimate of species decline and those found to be decreasing with vegetation inventory confirming the reliability of local knowledge. Charcoal production, bush fire, seasonal migration of cattle, and illegal logging, were identified as the main drivers of vegetation dynamics by more than 50% of the respondents. Main economic activities and community location significantly affected the ranking of the perceived drivers of vegetation dynamics, while age group did not.

Green jobs are of intense interest in the USA but heretofore have not been rigorously estimated.  While green jobs are desirable and are increasing rapidly, consistent time series estimates and forecasts of these jobs are not available.  This has impeded research and policy development.  We analyze the importance of green jobs and estimate the green jobs created by the USA economy 1970 – 2030 by industry, occupation, skill, and salaries.  Here we show that:  1) jobs generated by the USA green economy have increased from 1% of total jobs in 1970 to 6% 2020, and are forecast to comprise 14% of jobs in 2030; 2) most persons in these jobs do not realize that they owe their livelihood to the green economy; 3) jobs generated by the green economy are at least 3 or 4 times larger than realized; 4) most green jobs are not attractive, well paid, or unionized; 5) there about 25 times as many jobs currently being created by the U.S. green economy than by the U.S. coal industry; 6) advocates can be their own worst enemies by misrepresenting the reality of green jobs.   The significance of green jobs is not appreciated and this has serious economic, environmental, and policy implications that must be remedied.