Lessons from Forest Decentralization

by Colfer, Carol J. Pierce; Capistrano, Doris; Dahal, Ganga Ram; Moeliono, Moira

• ISBN13: 9781844075553
• ISBN10: 1844075559
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The decentralization of control over the vast forests of the world is moving at a rapid pace with both positive and negative ramifications for people and forests themselves. This new book, by leading researchers from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), presents the latest research into decentralization in the forests of Asia and the Pacific, unraveling the complex issues at stake. Fresh research from a host of Asia-Pacific countries including India, Nepal, China, Korea, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam among others, presents the authors' rich and varied experience with decentralization and provides important lessons for other regions. The book begins with historical and geographical overview chapters, proceeding to more in-depth coverage in the region's countries. Research findings stress rights, roles and responsibilities, on the one hand, and institutions including organization, capacity building, infrastructure and legal aspects, on the other. With these overarching themes in mind, the authors take on many controversial topics, examining inclusiveness in decision-making, justice and equity, criminal activity such as illegal logging and corruption, land use including rehabilitation and tenure, policy-practice gaps, community forestry, implications for household economies and environmental impacts such as fire. Several authors also address practical challenges related to financing and reinvestment in sustainable forest management under decentralized governance. Particular efforts have been made to examine decentralization at various scales from local to national and to address gender issues, which have previously been largely ignored in the decentralization discussions. The result is a unique examination of decentralization issues in forestry with clear lessons for policy, forest management, research, development and conservation in forested areas across the globe from the tropics to temperature regions.

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Tables and Boxes	p. vii
List of Contributors	p. xi
Foreword	p. xv
Acknowledgements	p. xvii
Setting the Stage: Money and Justice in Asian and Pacific Forests	p. 1
From Decentralization to Governance: Recurring Issues	p. 17
Governance, Tenure and Equity in Asia-Pacific Forests	p. 23
A Different Vantage Point: Decentralization, Women's Organizing and Local Forest Management	p. 49
Community Forestry in Nepal: Decentralized Forest Governance	p. 67
Policies and Programme to Make Decentralization Effective: A Case Study from China	p. 83
Forest Fire Management and Autonomy in the Republic of Korea	p. 101
The Gap between Policy and Practice in Lao PDR	p. 117
Consultative Planning for Effective Forest Governance: Case Studies from Malaysia and Indonesia	p. 133
Implementing Decentralization: Lessons from Experiences in Indonesia	p. 149
Devolved and Decentralized Forest Management in the Philippines: Triggers and Constraints in Investments	p. 163
The Household Economy and Decentralization of Forest Management in Vietnam	p. 187
Decentralization and Forest Governance in Asia and the Pacific: Trends, Lessons and Continuing Challenges	p. 211
Afterword	p. 233
Index	p. 237
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