PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Debela, Bethelhem AU - Shively, Gerald AU - Angelsen, Arild AU - Wik, Mette TI - Economic Shocks, Diversification, and Forest Use in Uganda AID - 10.3368/le.88.1.139 DP - 2012 Feb 01 TA - Land Economics PG - 139--154 VI - 88 IP - 1 4099 - http://le.uwpress.org/content/88/1/139.short 4100 - http://le.uwpress.org/content/88/1/139.full SO - Land Econ2012 Feb 01; 88 AB - We investigate household outcomes arising from economic shocks in rural Uganda, focusing on patterns of income diversification and forest use, and the role of assets in shaping ex post response to shocks. Income-poor households and those with below-average landholdings are observed to have more diversified income portfolios than their cohorts. Households encountering above-average losses tend to have more diversified income portfolios subsequent to the losses. Larger negative shocks are associated with greater use of the forest in subsequent periods, especially among asset-poor households. Findings suggest that development of better safety nets would reduce both vulnerability and forest pressure. (JEL O12, Q23)