Forest Connect

Reducing poverty by linking small and medium forest enterprises with national forest programmes, markets and service providers


Small and medium forest enterprises (SMFEs) are critical to the poor. They generate local wealth, help to secure local resources and environmental accountability, promote local creativity and help to preserve indigenous cultures and market niches. But while the number of SMFEs starting up in least developed countries is high, keeping them going sustainably is a major challenge. They face problems such as too much bureaucracy, unstable policies and regulations, insecure land rights, lack of bargaining power, insufficient business knowledge and difficulties accessing credit, market information and technology.


Many SMFEs work together in associations to reduce transaction costs, adapt to new market opportunities and shape the policy environment in their favour. But in many developing countries, support structures for such forest associations either do not exist or fail to reach those who need help most.


Objectives and expected outputs

The central aim of this project is to connect SMFEs to:
  • national forest programmes (empowering SMFEs to be heard by policy makers);
  • emerging markets (by supporting existing SMFE associations) and;
  • service providers (strengthening their capacity to provide training and finance).

    The project expected outputs are:
  • development of functional and stable information services and support networks for SMFEs in six countries – testing and adapting models for connecting SMFEs to national forest programmes, markets and service providers.
  • development of an information ‘toolkit’ based on practical experience that guides national forest programmes on how to set up an SMFE information service / support network to support the economic, social and environmental sustainability of SMFEs.
  • testing, applying and revising the toolkit in partner countries and national forest programme facility countries to maximise the worldwide potential of such information services and support networks for SMFEs.

    Geographic region and duration

    The project will be implemented in Burkina Faso, China, Ghana, Guatemala. Guyana, Lao PDR, Mali, Mozambique and Nepal, from April 2007 to March 2010.
    Forest Connect pilot countries
    Forest Connect pilot countries

    Key findings and publications to date

    Supporting small forest enterprises - A cross-sectoral review of best practice Duncan Macqueen

    This report reviews the growing consensus on best practice in small enterprise support, both within and outside the forest sector. It describes how a framework known as ‘market system development’ unites attempts to: strengthen enterprise associations, facilitate better provision of financial and business development services, and improve the business environment. It concludes with specific recommendations for support to SMFEs, which constitute the basis for the ‘Forest Connect’ alliance, aiming to spread good practice more broadly.

    Toward an enabling environment for small and medium forest enterprise development Jason Donovan, Dietmar Stoian, Sophie Grouwels, Duncan Macqueen, Arthur van Leeuwen, Gemma Boetekees and Ken Nicholson (2007)
    This policy brief was developed from an international conference on Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Poverty Reduction: Opportunities and Challenges in Globalizing Markets, Costa Rica, 23-25 May 2006


      Join the Forest Connect online network!
      As part of this alliance a new online network has been created to share news, tools, tactics and documents to help improve the prospects of SMFEs around the world. Membership of the network is free and open to everyone working or interested in SMFE issues.




    Developing a toolkit for facilitation of support for small forest enterprises

    First international workshop - 2-4 July 2008 Edinburgh, Scotland.
    Presentations and other relevant materials:
     Workshop report 
    Agenda 
    List of participants 
    Burkina Faso 
    China 
    Ethiopia 
    Guatemala 
    Ghana 
    Guyana 
    India 
    Laos 
    Mali 
    Mozambique 
    Nepal 
    Workshop participants
    Workshop participants

    Project websites

    - IIED
    - Burkina Faso
    - China
    - Guatemala
    - Guyana
    - Lao PDR (alternative link)
    - Mali
    - Mozambique
    - Nepal


    Project partners

    International partners:
    International Institute for Environment and Development
    Contact: Duncan Macqueen

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    Contact: Sophie Grouwels

    National partners:
    Burkina Faso: Tree Aid
    Contact: Tony Hill

    China: Forest Policy and Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Forestry
    Contact: Xinjian Luo

    Ethiopia: Farm Africa
    Contact: Tsegaye Tadesse

    Ghana: Tropenbos International
    Contact: Kwabena Nketiah

    Guatemala: Instituto Nacional de Bosques
    Contacto: Mario Rafael Rodríguez Palma

    Guyana: Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development
    Contact: Sharon Ousman

    Lao PDR: Enterprise & Development Consultants Co., Ltd and WWF Greater Mekong
    Contact: Buakhai Phimmavong or Thibault Ledecq

    Mali: Association des Organisations Professionnelles Paysannes
    Contact: Lassine Sidibe

    Mozambique: Centro Terra Viva
    Contact: Alda Salomao

    Nepal: Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources
    Contact: Bhishma Subedi



    The project is supported by:

    The Norwegian Government (through the FAO-Norway Partnership Programme)

    The UK Department for International Development (DFID)

    The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DANIDA)

    The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

    International Institute for Environment and Development

    • last updated: Monday, December 15, 2008