News from RRI »

RRI and community forestry at the UNFF

Monday, April 23 two side-events at the UN Forum on Forests highlighted the importance of community forestry and small-scale forest enterprise for sustainable development and local well-being.

In one room, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and RRI hosted a panel and discussion on "Small Forestry Enterprises: Drivers of Sustainable Development?"

Small and medium forest enterprises typically comprise the majority of forest enterprises in developing countries. They are an important provider of employment and other livelihood benefits, especially in the rapidly expanding areas of forest owned or managed by communities. But their potential contribution to poverty reduction and ecological integrity is often overlooked. Policy processes, business support and market mechanisms are often dominated by larger, better-connected forest industries, to the detriment of SMFEs. This side event explored what can be done to reconnect SMFEs to policy processes, business support and market mechanism, showcasing practical case studies from Africa and Latin America. Presenters included Duncan Macqueen of IIED, Andy White of RRI, Janette Bulkan of Yale, Steven Ngubane of Forestry South Africa, and Ing. Luis Barrera Garavito, Director of the Forest Agency of Guatemala. (More >>)

Next-door, the International Family Forestry Alliance (IFFA) and the Global Alliance of Community Forestry (GACF) hosted an event titled "Family and Community Forestry: their contribution to sustainable forest management, development and well-being of local communities."

GACF and IFFA are international networks of community and family forest owners, representing forest users from different parts of the world. The side event presented the contributions of these two types of forest ownership to sustainable forestry and development of local communities. It also discussed the role and possibilities for family and community forestry forest owners within the UNFF framework. Presenters and speakers included Tiina Vahanen of the FAO, Ghan Shyam Pandey of Nepal and the GACF, Bob Simpson of the International Family Forestry Alliance, Andy White of RRI, and Gunilla Reischl from the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. (More>>)

Posted By Megan Liddle at 1:05pm on April 26, 2007

This blog may contain links to external websites. These links should not be construed as endorsements by Rights and Resources of the content present. They are provided for informational purposes only.