Lessons from Forest Decentralization

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.