forest sector development

We believe that conservation, sustainable management and equitable access to forest resources are fundamental to rural economic growth and poverty reduction, and essential for the provision of local and global environmental services (such as a stable climate, clean water and biodiversity). Our work aims to achieve an equitable balance between the needs of governments, local communities, commercial and conservation interests, while ensuring that the value and integrity of forest eco-systems, and the species they support, are maintained.  The forest sector is a complex and contested environment. Forest resources and services are valuable commodities over which different groups compete for access, often against a background of policy, institutional and market failures which favour the more powerful stakeholders. We work to facilitate effective policy, governance and market responses at the local, national and international levels. We aim to help stakeholders manage their multiple objectives to achieve sustainable management of forest resources for conservation, economic growth, and livelihood needs.

Selected Experience:

• Orissa Forest Sector Support Project (India) including, review and development of state forest policy; institutional strengthening of the Forest Department; communications strategy; and a serie s of community-based pilot projects to improve rural livelihoods;
• Advising the Government of Malawi on private sector involvement in the management of its state-owned forest plantations, with an emphasis on economic growth and poverty reduction;
• A forward looking impact assessment study of Ghana’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (the VPA, signed in August 2008, involves a commitment by Ghana to supply legally licensed wood exports). This work was led by IIED;
• Implementation of a wide reaching reform programme in the Ghana Forest Sector, including support to Parliamentarians, a land and forest policy research facility, and strengthening civil society engagement in forest sector issues;
• Developing Terms of Reference for an Independent Forest Monitor for Finnida;
• Sustainable management planning for Government and community forests in Belize.