Community-based natural resource management and local users of natural resources can, and in many cases do, manage resources sustainably – if their rights to do so are recognized and protected, if appropriate institutions are in place or can be developed, and if the benefits are significant,…

The issue of supplying food to African towns will remain a major challenge in the coming years in view of the steep urban growth, the small increase in extensive agricultural production and the risks of bottlenecks in the supply and distribution circuits. Yet it is very…

This case study is one of a series of publications produced by the Forest Harvesting, Trade and Marketing Branch of FAO in an effort to promote environmentally sound forest harvesting and engineering practices. The purpose of these studies is to highlight both the promise of environmentally…

The Government of South Africa has a major holding of forest land, with a total estate covering 892,000 ha of forest and associated land. Within the state's forest holding there is a wide diversity of forest and land types including: commercial plantations and other afforested land;…

A description of Mongolia's forest resource base, including the prevailing socioeconomic, biological and physical environment. The country's forest industries and main wood products are outlined and forest development plans and legislation are presented

An overview of the state of Indonesia's forests and forest industries. Future supply and demand and other expected developments are presented in the light of current trends and long term plans.

The core thesis is that Western neoclassical economics and law (particularly Anglo-American) have a peculiar cultural history that biases Western-trained economists and lawyers against common property systems like those found among Africans and American Indians. This Western cultural bias is…

This thematic study provides a review and description of the trends in development of forest related legislation in a selected range of Asia-Pacific countries. The paper stresses the importance of often neglected factors in policy formulation such as the need for clear property rights, the…