Poverty and forestry: A case study of Kyrgyzstan with reference to other countries in West and Central Asia

Though forests occupy a relatively small proportion of West and Central Asia, they have historically been important to the people living in and around them.This paper examines the potential of forestry in Kyrgyzstan for poverty reduction, with a further discussion about these issues more generally in the region.

Key points made:

• the high degree of state control of forests is oneof the key constraints to promoting participatory approaches to forest management in West and Central Asia
• forestry is often seen as a technical and sectoral concern rather than as a means to empower the rural poor
• a change in laws and regulation regarding equal access to forest resources is essential for poverty reduction
• there is a need for institutional changes within forest departments and ministries if they are to promote truly participatory forest management
• civil society institutions also play a vital role in empowering people in forest management and access issues
• a national level analysis of forest policy should be carried out to understand the possible implications on poverty reduction, and experiences shared across the region