Battle-scarred forest governance tactics

Wise global prescriptions for managing forests abound. But we cannot combat illegal logging or deforestation-driven emissions with international analysis or diktat alone. IIED’s Forest Governance Learning Group, working on the ground for over a decade, has helped drive progress in 10 countries — from recognition of community resource rights to reforestation-boosting small enterprises. Its approach works because it understands forest governance as the sum of decisions made by people — people who sell or consume commodities from forest lands, who make or abuse the rules, or who just try to make ends meet. Over years of engaging those people to do more for ~sustainability and local livelihoods, the group can now show how it has made progress, and can offer a set of ‘battle-proven’ tactics that anyone can use.