COMMUNITY FORESTRY IN THE CARIBBEAN

Caribbean Sub group

INTRODUCTION
Community Forestry participation of local communities in decisions about how forests are managed and used. Also known as
Participatory forest management Community based forest management Community-based forestry Collaborative management ( co-management)

 In Caribbean there are varying degrees of local participation in forest management.

There is the traditional top-down approach. Many Government agencies are giving local people a greater say in how the forests are managed.
Some direct how communities will assist in the management activities.
National Reforestation & watershed Rehabilitation Programme in Trinidad & Tobago Water Catchment groups in St. Lucia.

 Some Government agencies focus on building capacities to develop strategies for sustainable forestbased livelihoods. Local Forest Management Committees in Jamaica Small loggers associations in Guyana. Management of PAs by NGOs in Belize.

 Government Agencies work closely with forest users to promote sustainable use of the forest resources
Community tourism initiatives in many islands Latanye broom makers in St Lucia.

Some Government Agencies give specific management responsibilities to Community Grps

Aripo Savannas Environ Sensitive area in T&T

Community driven initiatives local comunities protect and sustainable use forest resources they regard as important
Fondes Amandes Reforestation project in Trinidad La Foundation Macaya pour le Devept in Haiti Maroon Community in Nevis

 Community Forestry initiatives usually seek to promote the related objectives

Forest conservation Sustainable use of forest resources Development of alternative uses Poverty reduction

Emphasis on each of these objectives differs and trade off not always negotiated Govt objectives are usually focused on forest conservation Communities focus on livelihood benefits

Key Messages

Community Forestry is contributing to improved forest management and conservation and is also providing benefits to community livelihoods.

 Community efforts contribute to forest conservation resulting in:

Increased Biodiversity Reduced soil erosion Improved and sustained water supply

They benefit from:

increase income Increased skills & knowledge Improved roads & buildings Enhanced community pride New & stronger relationships with other communities Increased confidence to lobby government. Better relationships with and access to support to external partners

Enabling policies, laws, structures, and processes are needed to promote and support community forestry

Need for improved policy environment to support community forestry

 The translation of forest policy statements into effective and efficient policy instruments laws, regulations, guidelines, standards etc. Policy support for Community forestry exists in:
Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago

Legislation in most Caribbean countries are outdated except Jamaica. Many countries have structures that support participatory forest management e.g. Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano in DR. Participatory processes in forest policy developmt & managemt planning is increasing eg Grenada, Suriname A framework that allows clear access and commercial use rights is essential e.g. in St Lucia charcoal harvesting in Mankote mangrove.

Sustained long-term support and capacity building of the community and local groups is required to enable them to participate effectively in community forestry initiatives.
Govt agencies engaging communities must have a long-term commitment to build capacity, esp in
governance, Strategic visioning and planning Fundraising Business development and management

Forestry Commission and Department of Guyana and Jamaica assist their local groups with governance training. Jamaica has assign a Rural Sociologist as support to the groups. Mentoring community groups is an important strategy in community forestry

Government agencies must develop key capacities to be able to effectively promote and facilitate community forestry
Capacity is required in facilitation; conflict management; communication; stakeholder identification and analysis; stakeholder mobilisation; community profiling and rapid social assessment; business development and management; participatory planning. Agencies could add rural sociologists and social foresters to their staff, use NGOs such as CANARI Building this capacity is challenging in small agencies need to build national and regional partnerships. Examples of how govts strengthen forest activities at community level is seen in DR provides PES to sml forest owners; Cuba promotes forest farms

Community forestry initiatives can be implemented via formal or informal co-management arrangements, but in all cases they should be based on sustained efforts to develop mutual trust and respect
Trust is essential to the success of formal and informal agreements. Good example is the support the Guyana Forestry Commission provides to Small Loggers Asssociations which in return assist the Commission to monitor chainsaw logging operations.

Conclusion
Forests in the Caribbean critical to economic developmt Rural communities depend on forest goods & services Conservation of forest resources more difficult with economic recession. Natural disaster esp hurricanes serious threats to forest and people. Caribbean countries, their forests, and rural communities vulnerable to impacts of climate change. Participatory approaches and community forestry important to monitor and integrate activities in the forestry sector.

 Community forestry is a key strategy to address these challenges. Important in developing sustainable livelihoods; adapting to climate change; and reducing the risks from natural disaster eg. replanting If properly supported community forestry will contribute to poverty reduction, climate change mitigation & adaptation, conservation of forest biodiversity well being of people.

 The Commission is invited to consider and analyze the different key messages and challenges to effectively strengthen the community forestry policies and practices in Latin America and the Caribbean

Moreover, the Commission may wish to consider to recommend that the Committee on Forests (COFO) examine ways of providing greater support to countries of the region and the Caribbean in specific community forestry, forestry shared responsibility for sustainable forest management and the need to have local communities playing an important role in the conservation of forests to mitigate the impact on the worlds climate change.

Thank you