Open Knowledge (FSC OK)

Over the last two decades, countries across the trop ics have devolved increasing authority over natural forests to local actors. The ability of those actors to manage forests sustainably and make forestry a competitive land-use choice has therefore taken on a growing importance. In response to this changing landscape, a range of efforts around the globe are supporting community-based forest management by working to improve the capacity of local people to manage their natural resources and develop local enterprise. In spite of the abundance of manuals, methodologies and other tools to guide technical assistance, there is a relative paucity of systematic analyses of the results of such efforts: experiences, lessons learned and recommendations for improv ing assistance to local forestry development. This case study is one of 10 produced under �Forest Conservation through Certification, Markets and Strengthening of Small and Medium-sized Forest Enterprise,� a five-year project supported by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group. Led by the Rainforest Alliance, the project involves approximately 100 community operations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. The project�s central aim is to improve local livelihoods through sustainable forestry and enterprise development. Although the support needs, contexts and develop ment levels of partner communities vary tremen dously, the project�s unifying strategy is to improve business capacities, market access and financial sup port for enterprise development in order to secure sustainable forest management and livelihood development.