Author Evans, K. et al.

Year of publication 2006

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) has developed various participatory tools specifically for use with forest communities and other natural resource dependent groups. Some of these tools are adaptations of existing methods; others were created specifically for work with forest dependent communities. The tools have diverse applications: stakeholder identification, decision making, planning, conflict management, information collection, and other uses. CIFOR has applied and tested these methods in communities in many countries. This collective experience has strengthened and enriched the tools, making them flexible and robust. This guide is directed toward environment and development practitioners, researchers, and local government leaders. It provides information on several tools in order to help readers grasp the tools’ basic capabilities, identify the most appropriate tool for their needs and find resources for additional information. The guide does not provide an exhaustive description of how to use each tool but rather an introduction and comparative overview. Much like a map, this guide sends readers in the right direction. The guide hopes to provide people who work with forest communities with new options as they advance objectives of sustainable forest management and empowerment of forest dependent communities.