Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Toolbox

Tool Details

Guidelines for formulating national forest financing strategies

Author Kant, P. & Appanah, S.
Year of publication 2013
For decades, we have been seeking ways to manage forests on a sustainable basis. With the years of experience gathered, it is obvious that the technical issues can be surmounted. The limitation is seemingly with opportunity costs — as things stand, forestry is losing out to conversion to other uses such as agriculture. This being the case, in most instances, management of forests is usually limited to extraction of timber, with no provisions for conservation and protection of all the other values attributed to forests. Hence, the single major refrain constantly being voiced is the cost of managing forests — it is very high. Yet forests are expected to continue providing all the ecological, protective and environmental functions for free. But the situation is beginning to change. More recognition is being given to what the forests provide, such as fresh water, carbon sequestration, soil protection, and other resources that forest-dependent communities have relied upon for millennia.
Type of Tool
Guidelines, manual, kits for trainers
Scale of Application
Forest Management Unit
Region
Global
Biome
All
Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)
Primary Designated Function
Multiple use
Management Responsibility
All