While previous studies focus on lack of enforcement of forest laws poverty and ecological
values of forest dependent people coherent studies on people's motivations for forest
illegalities and non-compliance behavior remain scanty. Emmanuel Ametepeh argues that the
systematic analysis of cause-and-effect patterns related to forest management measures and
policies through the lenses of the Forest Transition Theory uncovers severe limitations. The
resulting multi-complex stress factors adversely impact and hence manifest in the form of
deviant compliance behavior (syndrome) in the management endeavor of forest-fringe people. The
Author shows that motivations for forest illegalities and associated non-compliance behavior is
largely an outcome of adverse experiences forest people have been subjected to as a result of
historical and contemporary neglects and marginalization in the management endeavor.
