Seeing people through the trees : scaling up efforts to advance rights and address poverty, conflict and climate change

Abstract

Forest areas have an integral role in the development agenda of the next several decades because of the myriad challenges that converge within their landscapes. Donor agencies and policy-makers can change historical patterns of forest governance and management as a first and critical step toward addressing the impending global challenges of climate change, ongoing conflict and persistent poverty.

The report references past models of forest management to demonstrate the weaknesses in prior governance structures while emphasizing gaps and opportunities for the strategic involvement of the international community. The key messages and recommendations to emerge from this literature speak to the global development community, country governments and civil society regarding their roles in forest tenure reform and improved governance.