1. A global review of extent and effectiveness
Tropical Forestry The Institute of Foresters of Australia Cairns August, 2017
40 years of community-based forestry:
A global review of extent and effectiveness
Don Gilmour

2. Background and context of review
This presentation reports on some of the key findings from a review of extent and effectiveness of Community Based Forestry (CBF) carried out in
Follows on from previous
FAO reviews of community
forestry in 1990 and 2001.
Substantial body of literature now available.

3. Content of presentation
What is community-based forestry (CBF)?
Extent of CBF globally and regionally
Trends in CBF
Effectiveness of CBF
Conditionalities for effective implementation of CBF
Take home messages

4. What is Community Based Forestry (CBF)?
Umbrella description that includes both collaborative regimes (forestry practiced on land that has some form of communal tenure and requires collective action) and smallholder forestry (forestry practiced by smallholders on land that is generally privately owned).
It includes formalized customary and indigenous initiatives as well as government-led initiatives.
Informal regimes (very widespread in Africa) are excluded although they may be locally effective.
Agro-forestry (trees scattered in farming systems) are excluded.

5. Spectrum of CBF regimes
Precise typology of CBF regimes is difficult.
CBF regimes are not all the same and deliver different outcomes.
Generic regimes include:
Participatory
Conservation
Joint
Forest
management
Community
Forestry
(limited devolution)
Community
Forestry
(full devolution)
Smallholder
Forestry
Passive participation in government programs
Active control
by communities /
smallholders
Increasing number and strength of rights

6. Extent of CBF regionally and globally
Area of forest
(million ha)
Forest area under CBF
CBF as % of all forest
Africa (12 countries)
396 23
5.8
Asia-Pacific (15 countries)
658
224
34.0
Latin America (10 countries)
841
272
32.3
Europe (23 countries-excl. Russia)
222 89
40.0
North America:
Canada
U.S.A.
310
304 19
105
6.1
34.5
Global (61 countries)
2,609
689
26.4

7. Characteristics of CBF regionally
Africa (6%): CBF is a relatively new development, and most countries have projects rather than institutionalized programs (Tanzania, The Gambia, Namibia are exceptions).
Large parts of Africa have
informal CBF regimes, but
these are not recognized
by governments.

8. Characteristics of CBF regionally
Asia-Pacific (34%): Collaborative types of CBF are most common, but smallholder forestry has expanded rapidly in China and Viet Nam in recent decades.

9. Trends in CBF Transition from projects to programs.
Emergence of CSOs to represent community interests.
Rapid expansion of smallholder forestry in Asia and growing recognition of its importance in Latin America.
Commercialization of CBF products (move from subsistence to market orientation). Connections between smallholders, communities and private companies.
Incorporation of a wider range of policy objectives into CBF (particularly REDD).

10. Effectiveness of CBF—what to assess?
Determining effectiveness is not easy because of multi-dimensional nature of CBF—it generally tries to address many issues at the same time. Different objectives set for CBF, often changing over time
Objectives generally: moving towards SFM-and improving local livelihoods
Livelihoods framework (DFID) is taken as basis for assessing change (particularly: changes in natural, social/institutional/human and financial capital).
Relatively few analyses of effectiveness available.

11. Effectiveness of CBF—natural capital
Natural capital: Examples CBF resulting in improvements to forests—area, density and productivity. Some changes have been spectacular.

12. Effectiveness of CBF—social capital
Social/institutional/human capital: Many examples of enhanced social/institutional and human capital that has led to improved local governance and enhanced grassroots democracy.

13. Effectiveness of CBF—financial capital
Financial capital: Few examples available. Large case study in Nepal found: income from community forests makes up 26% of total household income. Communities in Nepal generate USD 49 million per year from managing CFs. Examples from Latin America indicate substantial job creation associated with CFEs (Mexico).

14. Conditionalities for effective implementation of CBF
Based on lessons learned: a set of policy interventions has been identified that are pre-conditions to enable communities to build their natural capital and transform it into improved well-being.
All pre-conditions must be addressed to ensure CBF delivers on its potential

16. Take home messages
CBF now a major forest management modality in all regions around the world (and is continuing to expand)
Under the right conditions it has been shown to lead to significant improvements in forest condition (leading to SFM) and local livelihoods
We know what needs to be done to improve outcomes
In most situations it is still under-performing and its full potential is yet to be realized
There is a lack of solid data on extent and effectiveness at national scale

17. Thank you