Investment in policy oriented research is rising despite uncertainties about the degree to which it has actually contributed to benefits for the poor and the environment thus far. To address these uncertainties, this Impact Assessment Paper explores a case example of the contribution of policy oriented research to improved environmental benefits. The subject of the assessment is political economy research that revealed how perverse incentives led to the clearance of large areas of natural forests for feeding massive Indonesian pulp mills.

Since President Soeharto stepped down, decentralization has offered a better governance system for this nation of more than 220 million people of varied ethnic groups spread over more than 15,000 islands. Despite its potential, implementation of decentralization has been riddled with unexpected problems. Decentralization turned out to have created problems, ranging from conflicts among people who refused regional fragmentation, conflicts between newly-created districts and the original, larger district from which they were created, and between local and central government.

Beyond Timber: Certification and Management of Non-Timber Forest Products is a valuable contribution and a practical guide for communities, researchers, policy makers, and donors interested in assessing the value of investing time and effort in the still elaborate and costly process of gaining independent international recognition of sound management practices directed to harvest of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). Beyond Timber does not attempt to mask the difficulties of obtaining NTFP certification.