International Institute for Environment and Development 
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Forestry and Land Use Project Summary
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Theme: Small-scale producers and local economies Project name: Corporate-smallholder forestry partnerships for poverty alleviation Dates / Duration: April 2004 to March 2006
Geographic Region(s): International Introduction: More and more commercial forest products are originating from planted forests - either plantations or trees on farms. This trend is set to continue in future. Yet planted forests are socially complex – they generally occur on land, and hold goods and services, for which there are multiple demands from different stakeholders. In this context, the corporate private sector is increasingly becoming more socially, economically and environmentally responsible. Corporations are realising that they can and should accommodate the concerns of communities beside or within planted forests, and the contractors, forest industry workers, and smallholder investors, with whom they interact. Smallholders too are realising that their interests can be met if the right sort of relationship around tree-growing can be developed with corporations. IIED, together with FAO and CIFOR, has been pursuing some preliminary work on these issues. In the course of this work considerable demand and some key priorities have been identified which need addressing. Two over-arching priorities are apparent:
This proposed project – as yet not up and running - seeks to rise to the challenge presented by these two linked priorities. Objectives: The project has the following purpose - improved effectiveness, efficiency and equity of partnerships between corporate and smallholder investors in planted trees and forests landscapes. The specific objectives are:
It is anticipated that partners in one or more countries will be finalised from each of: Southern Africa; Latin America and S.E. Asia. In country and cross-regional networking workshops between stakeholders and between regions will be held to scale up the experiences. Action-learning by local multi-disciplinary teams will be the mainstay of the approach. Each of the three proposing agencies has experience in this way of working – with particular complementarities stemming from the policy, technical support and country representation of FAO, research and pilot capacity of CIFOR and policy, legal and institutional experience of IIED in the target regions and countries. Key findings/ progress to date: IIED has been working on these issues in the context of its project on Instruments for sustainable private sector forestry. This involved partners in a range of countries, some of whom have published detailed findings, and a synthesis review of issues by IIED (see below). The review work covers some 57 examples in 22 countries – from informal deals to contract-based outgrower schemes and joint ventures. It found that while some so-called partnerships are thinly veiled swindles or bald attempts to spruce up company image, others have produced significant returns to local livelihoods as well as to company profits. Lessons from experience and a set of principles and next steps for developing true partnerships of equals were developed. Key Publications: Company-community forestry partnerships: a growing phenomenon. Links to partners: Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Forest extension Center for International Forestry Research, (CIFOR) Project supported by: Financial supporters yet to be confirmed. Contact: James Mayers, IIED Copyright © 2005 International Institute for Environment and Development. |
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