Definitions of social forestry and community forestry

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1.6 Definitions of social forestry and community forestry

There are many definitions and models of social forestry that emphasize different social, economic and ecological goals and levels of local participation and autonomy in forest management Box 2. Although the term “social forestry” is sometimes used synonymously with community forestry, it is considered to have greater emphasis on social objectives, such as poverty reduction Arnold, 1992; Poffenberger et al., 2005, and is often targeted at vulnerable or underprivileged groups. Although this publication singles out social forestry in its title, it uses the two terms somewhat interchangeably. Social forestry can also contribute to less tangible goals, such as social cohesion, social inclusion, learning and education, empowerment, emotional well-being and physical recreation. Social forestry activities can include people living within and around forests who depend on the forest for some or all of their basic needs. Social forestry takes place in both rural and urban areas and in industrialized and developing countries Sands, 2005. Box 2: Definitions of social forestry and community forestry The following reflects the variance in definitions and the greater use of community forestry than social forestry. FAO 1978: Community forestry is any situation that “intimately involves local people in a forestry activity. It embraces a spectrum of situations ranging from woodlots in areas which are short of wood and other forest products for local needs, through the growing of trees at the farm level to provide cash crops and the processing of forest products at the household, artisan or small industry level to generate income, to the activities of forest dwelling communities”. Gilmour and Fisher 1991: Community forestry is “the control and management of forest resources by the rural people who use them, especially for domestic purposes and as an integral part of their farming systems”. Martel and Whyte 1992: Community forestry is “a village-level forestry activity, decided on collectively and implemented on communal land, where local populations participate in the planning, establishing, managing and harvesting of forest crops and so receive a major proportion of the socio-economic and ecological benefits from the forest”. Revington, Rainforest Information Centre 1992: “Community forestry has the following characteristics: the local community controls a clearly and legally defined area of forest; the local community is free from governmental and other outside pressure concerning the utilization of that forest; if the forestry involves commercial sale of timber or other products, then the community is free from economic exploitation of markets or other pressure from outside forces; the community has long-term security of tenure over the forest and sees its future as being tied to the forest.” Nanang and Inoue 2000: Social forestry is “participatory forest-related activities for the purpose of sustaining and improving the economic and social welfare of people living in and around forests”. Charnley and Poe 2007: “Community forestry refers to forest management that has ecological sustainability and local community benefits as central goals, with some degree of responsibility and authority for forest management formally vested in the community.” Burley, Oxford Forestry Institute 2007: “Community forestry, social forestry and rural development forestry are more or less equivalent and reflect Abraham Lincoln’s view of democracy – government of the people, by the people, for the people.” RECOFTC 2008: Community forestry “includes all aspects, initiatives, sciences, policies, institutions and processes that are intended to increase the role of local people in governing and managing forest resources. It consists of informal, customary and indigenous and formal or government-led initiatives. Community forestry covers social, economic and conservation dimensions in a range of activities, including indigenous management of sacred sites of cultural importance, small-scale forest-based enterprises, forestry out-grower schemes, company–community partnerships and decentralized and devolved forest management.” Carter 2010: Community forestry is “an approach to forest management that actively promotes the rights of the people living in and around the forest to both participate in forest management decisions and to benefit financially and in kind from the results of the management”. 5 Each ASEAN country has developed its own definition of social or community forestry Table 2. Table 2: National definition of social andor community forestry Country Cambodia Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Philippines Thailand Viet Nam The 2003 Sub-Decree on Community Forestry Management defines a community forest as “the forest plantation of a community or state forest, where the right is granted to a local Community living in or near the forest to manage and utilize the forest in a sustainable manner between the Forestry Administration and a local community”. Social forestry is a forest resource management system implemented in the state forest or private forest that gives the local community the opportunity to act as main partners in improving their welfare and keep the existence of the forest. “Village forestry” is the official term for community forestry, focusing on the management of natural forests. Village forestry is defined as a “partnership between the State and organized villagers for the management of designated forests in order to sustain the flow of benefits, which are fairly shared by the villagers and the rest of the national community”. Village forestry is understood as a process rather than a predetermined output and as a continuum of approaches to people-oriented forest management, with different intensities in the degree of participation. Social forestry differs in each state. In Sabah, social forestry is defined as the “management and protection of forest and afforestation of degraded land with the purpose of contributing towards environment, social and rural development” Sabah Forest Department. In Sarawak, social forestry takes the form of agro-forestry. In Peninsular Malaysia, it is mainly for recreation, education and the greening of urban areas. Community forestry is forestry operations involving the local community. Community forestry means afforestation and the establishment of woodlots where there is a lack of fuelwood or other products for community use as well as the planting of trees and the extraction and use of forest products to obtain food supplies, consumer products and incomes at the farmer level Community Forestry Instructions, Forest Department, 1995. The national strategy to ensure sustainable management of the country’s forest land resources is community-based forest management. It promotes social justice and improved well-being of local communities and stronger partnerships between local communities and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources FMB, 2004. The Royal Forest Department 1998 described community forests as forests that people, groups of people or community organizations care for and manage for their shared benefits. Community forest is land andor forest land upon which it is legally permitted for communities, together with forestry officers, to manage forestry activities, under the relevant laws and regulations. They can also set up their own policies, which may be concerned with culture, beliefs, religious or other traditions. This management aims to provide sustainable forest use for the community Wichawutipong, undated. Community forest management is “any managerial arrangement in which local people share collective responsibility and benefits from managing natural forests, inside their community boundaries, for which they have long-term customary andor legal rights of entitlement” Wode and BaoHuy, 2009. Definition 6

1.7 Climate change