Review of USAID’s Natural Forest Management Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean

This assessment documents the insights of a range of stakeholders on achieving tangible results in NFM.. In the main text, authors’ findings and recommendations are presented under four categories: policy and institutional development, forest management, business and market development, and social and community development. The recommendations synthesize the insights gained during the assessment and suggest areas for further development of action strategies on the part of USAID.

The recommendations are summarized below:

Recommendations for the design and implementation of NFM projects:

• There is a need to identify and take advantage of windows of opportunity in situations presenting favorable political and economic conditions
• The design of pilot projects should explicitly consider the potential for expansion of these projects into larger-scale commercial ventures
• Project design teams should analyze potential incentives to interest stakeholders in longterm investment in NFM.
• NFM projects must continue to promote local participation in all key decisions
• NFM project design should consider the development of “clusters” between buyers and sellers along the continuum from the forest resource to the end-user. These facilitate economies of scale and offer increased market security and efficiency.
• NFM projects should encourage governments to clarify tenure rights and obligations regarding individuals, communities, local governments and central government agencies.

Recommendations for further training in NFM:

• Training remains a key priority for communities if they are to be successful in implementing NFM.
• Public officials responsible for NFM need strengthened skills in general management, governance, and technical fields.
• Training efforts in NFM must stress linkages with forest-based industries
• Combine training in technical aspects of NFM with training to build capacity in business skills

Recommendations for further technical assistance in NFM:

• Actively promote criteria and principles for certification of best management practices for NFM
• There is a need for better understanding of forest resources outside protected areas and for policies that will balance conservation and use of these resources.
• Further work needs to focus on identifying critical watersheds and defining the respective management roles and responsibilities
• Increase support for knowledge management and dissemination of NFM information and lessons learned, especially through formats such as databases and electronic discussion lists
• Conduct and incorporate technical assistance in market analysis during the project design stage.
• As demand for wood continues to increase while traditionally marketed tropical species become less available, there is a need to reengage in research, development, and extension of lesser-known species.

The last portion of this document places these recommendations in the context of natural forest management and discusses potential applications of the recommendations for USAID assistance programs.

[adapted from authors’ summary]