Year of publication 2006

The voluntary guidelines have been derived through an extensive multistakeholder process coordinated by FAO over a period of two years which involved experts in planted forests from governments, the private sector (corporate and smallholder), non-governmental (social and environmental) and intergovernmental organizations and academics. The process identified critical niches for a set of voluntary guidelines, not legally binding, for key decision-makers for planted forests in order to link international, national and local enabling environments. The aim of the guidelines is to strengthen country capacity to balance the social, cultural, environmental and economic dimensions of planted forest management and to increase their contributions towards sustainable livelihoods and land use.